Editing Lithium (section)

=== Ceramics and glass ===
Lithium oxide is widely used as a [[Flux (metallurgy)|flux]] for processing [[silica]], reducing the [[melting point]] and [[viscosity]] of the material and leading to [[ceramic glaze|glazes]] with improved physical properties including low coefficients of thermal expansion. Worldwide, this is one of the largest use for lithium compounds.<ref name="Li-uses-2011">{{Cite news |url=https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/lithium/mcs-2016-lithi.pdf |title=Lithium |date=2016 |via=US Geological Survey (USGS) |access-date=29 November 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130163912/http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/lithium/mcs-2016-lithi.pdf |archive-date=30 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fmclithium.com/Portals/FMCLithiumFineChemicals/Content/Docs/Worldwide+Demand+by+Sector.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907204758/http://www.fmclithium.com/Portals/FMCLithiumFineChemicals/Content/Docs/Worldwide%20Demand%20by%20Sector.pdf |title=Fmclithium.com |archive-date=7 September 2014 |website=www.fmclithium.com}}</ref> Glazes containing lithium oxides are used for ovenware. [[Lithium carbonate]] (Li<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>) is generally used in this application because it converts to the oxide upon heating.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/group1/compounds.html |title=Some Compounds of the Group 1 Elements |last1=Clark |first1=Jim |date=2005 |website=chemguide.co.uk |access-date=8 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627011258/http://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/group1/compounds.html |archive-date=27 June 2013}}</ref>