Optimization of sintering conditions of advanced tritium breeder pebbles fabricated by the emulsion method

Lithium Vapor Chemistry of Hyper-Stoichiometric Lithium Metatitanate Li2.12(2)TiO3+y

“…Figure shows electron microscope images of the pebbles. The stoichiometric Li 2 TiO 3 pebbles were fabricated by sol–gel method by sintering at 1373 K under air atmosphere (Figure a) . The stoichiometric pebbles had an average pebble diameter of 1.0 mm, sintering density of 84.1% T.D., and grain size of <5 μm.…”

“…The hyper-stoichiometric pebbles were fabricated by emulsion method by sintering at 1373 K under N2 atmosphere. 18 Average pebble diameter and sintering density of the hyperstoichiometric pebbles were 1.33 mm and 87.6% T.D., with grain sizes smaller than 10 m (Figure 1b). By powder X-ray diffraction using Cu-K (RINT-2500, Rigaku), it was confirmed that these pebbles had no diffraction peak from impurity phase such as Li4Ti5O12, Li4TiO4 or Li2CO3.…”

“…In previous experiments, altered chemical properties of Li 2+ x TiO 3+ y from Li 2 TiO 3 have been reported, including faster tritium diffusion, enhanced grain growth during heating, and higher affinity for moisture and carbon dioxide . It is noteworthy that mass loss by evaporation of Li-containing species at high temperatures were enhanced by the increase of Li/Ti ratio. , The Li loss by evaporation should be minimized for sufficient breeding of tritium fuel during reactor operation.…”

“…[13][14][15] The existence of interstitial Li atom at tetrahedral site in the Li-O layer is experimentally shown by neutron diffraction. 16 In previous experiments, altered chemical properties of Li2+xTiO3+y from Li2TiO3 have been reported, including faster tritium diffusion, 17 enhanced grain growth during heating, 18 and higher affinity for moisture and carbon dioxide. 19 It is noteworthy that mass loss by evaporation of Li-containing species at high temperatures were enhanced by the increase of Li/Ti ratio.…”

Pebble fabrication and tritium release properties of an advanced tritium breeder

“…A technique for the fabrication of Li 2+x TiO 3+y pebbles using the emulsion method has been reported [9,10]. The emulsion method is one of the candidate methods for mass pebble production.…”