Preparation and characterization of Li4SiO4 ceramic pebbles by graphite bed method

Lithium-based ceramics have long been recognized as tritium breeding materials in fusion reactor blankets. Lithium orthosilicate (Li4SiO4) is one of these materials and has been recommended by many ITER research teams as the first selection for the solid tritium breeder. In this paper, the fabrication of Li4SiO4 pebbles used as tritium breeder by a graphite bed method was studied for the first time. Ceramic powders and deionized water were mixed and ball milled to obtain homogeneous suspensions. And then the ceramic suspensions were dispersed on spread graphite powder through nozzles. Spherical droplets with highly uniform size were formed by the surface tension of the liquid droplets. The droplets converted into green pebbles after drying. After calcination and sintering, Li4SiO4 pebbles with desired size and shape were prepared. The obtained Li4SiO4 pebbles had narrow size distribution and favorable sphericity. Thermal analysis, phase analysis and microstructure observation of the pebbles were carried out systematically. Properties of the prepared pebbles were also characterized for crushing load strength, density and porosity, etc. The values were found to be conforming to the desired properties for used as solid breeder. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.