The thermal stability of lithium containing hydrotalcite, a material that has potential application for providing atmospheric corrosion protection to aluminium alloys, was investigated. Lithium aluminium carbonate hydroxide hydrate (Li2Al4CO3(OH)(12).3H(2)O) coatings were prepared by immersion of an 1100 aluminium alloy into a lithium carbonate-lithium hydroxide solution, and the bulk material was prepared by precipitation in the same solution. Thermal stability of the coatings and the bulk material existed to around 150 degrees C. Above this temperature, interlayer water was expelled, followed by loss of structural water and carbon dioxide. The kinetic parameters for interlayer water loss have been determined, and water loss can be described by a Johnson-Mehl-Avrami rate equation.