Influence of neutron irradiation on the strength characteristics of lithium ceramic pellets for fusion reactor blankets

The possibility of using lithium containing ceramic pellets in fusion reactor breeding blankets is estimated. A pilot technology of pellet manufacture of lithium orthosilicate, metasilicate and aluminate was worked out for reactor tests of lithium ceramics. About 5000 pebbles were manufactured by this technology, which were irradiated in a water graphite nuclear reactor up to the fluence of 1.5×1021 cm−2. The irradiation assemblies containing 270 pellets were designed and manufactured. A simultaneous irradiation under identical conditions and a comparison of their strength limit σcompr before and after irradiation allow to estimate the neutron irradiation effect on the strength characteristics of the pellets. An estimation of the pellet life has been carried out. The pellets can be applied in a blanket up to a lithium burn-out of 2.5%.