Industrial-grade lithium hydroxide, typically 85-95% purity, serves glass, ceramics, metallurgy, and lubricants where cost efficiency matters more than trace impurities. Battery-grade material requires at least 99.5% purity, with iron content capped at 1 ppm or even 0.1 ppm for premium specs. The gap in purity reflects fundamentally different production control systems, not just additional refining steps. Battery-grade hydroxide is indispensable for high-nickel cathodes, where iron contamination causes self-discharge, shortens cycle life, and creates magnetic foreign matter safety risks. This quality divide translates into a persistent price spread, with battery-grade commanding a premium that widens during tight supply. As China's new energy vehicle and storage markets expand, battery-grade capacity is being prioritized by major producers, leaving industrial-grade supply more exposed to traditional demand cycles.
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