Pressureless sintering of lithium hydride

Lithium Hydride is a material of growing importance for addressing technological challenges related to nuclear fusion, long-term human space travel, and thermal energy storage. Pressureless sintering provides a straightforward, scalable approach to produce dense LiH parts of all sizes and shapes. Pressed LiH green compacts were sintered at heating rates from 2.5 to 20 degrees C/min to 650 degrees C, yielding densities up to 96 +/- 1.4%, with densification initiating at 500 degrees C. A validated master sintering curve was constructed with a sintering apparent activation energy of 135 kJ/mol. X-ray diffraction and simultaneous thermal analysis revealed Li2O formation from 300 - 550 degrees C and decomposition of LiH into Li metal at 550 degrees C, each reflected as deviations in the master sintering curve. Computed tomography after thermal treatment to 550 degrees C showed the formation of corrosion products, and after thermal treatment to 650 degrees C LiH reduction to Li most significantly at exposed surfaces.