Control of particle size and density of Li2TiO3 pebbles fabricated by indirect wet processes

A small pebble has been selected as the shape of lithium titanate (Li2TiO3) in the Japanese design of the fusion blanket. In the present study, fabrication tests of Li2TiO3 pebbles were carried out by two kinds of indirect wet processes (a wet process using a dehydration reaction and another wet process using a substitution reaction), and the basic characteristics of each kind of Li2TiO3 pebbles were evaluated for irradiation tests with the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR). From results of the fabrication tests and characterization, bright prospects were obtained concerning mass production of Li2TiO3 pebbles with a target diameter of 0.2–2.0 mm and a target density of 80–85% theoretical density (TD) by these two kinds of indirect wet processes.