Production and characterization of titanium beryllides for HIDOBE irradiation

Preliminary investigations revealed that beryllides like Be12Ti may be much more suitable for neutron multipliers in future fusion power plants than pure beryllium. With suitable mechanical alloying and hot pressing methods, beryllium and beryllium–titanium tablets with grain sizes of 5 μm have been produced and analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and plasma emission spectrometry. The fabricated tablets of Be–7.7 at.%Ti, corresponding to a chemical composition of the Be12Ti phase, have been arc-melted in an oxygen-free atmosphere. X-ray diffractometry, scanning and high resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements revealed that the vast majority of the ingots consist of nearly pure Be12Ti phase. Nineteen specimens have been fabricated from the ingots and shipped to HFR-Petten for the HIDOBE benchmark irradiation program that started in June 2005 with an aim to achieve 6000 appm He in Be and Be alloys at blanket relevant irradiation temperatures.