Fabrication of the Li sub(2)TiO sub(3) tritium breeder pebbles by a capillary-based microfluidic wet process

• Published in: Journal of nuclear science and technology 2016-02, Vol.53 (2), p.250-257
• Main Authors: Li, Xiao-Xiao, Zhang, Miao, Zhou, Wei-Yue, Chang, Zhen-Qi, Liu, Chung-King, Meng, Da-Qiao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Breeder reactors; Droplets; Microfluidics; Polyvinyl alcohols; Shape; Sintering (powder metallurgy); Slurries; Tritium
• ISSN: 0022-3131; 1881-1248
• DOI: 10.1080/00223131.2015.1037806

Li sub(2)TiO sub(3) is one of the most promising candidates among tritium breeders. In this work, Li sub(2)TiO sub(3) pebbles with a narrow size distribution, high density, small grain size, and good sphericity are synthesized using the commercial Li sub(2)TiO sub(3) powder as the raw material by a co-flow capillary-based microfluidic wet process. Highly uniform slurry droplets containing Li sub(2)TiO sub(3) powder and polyvinyl alcohol were formed in the microfluidic device and then solidified with the cross-linking reaction between polyvinyl alcohol and borax. Li sub(2)TiO sub(3) pebbles were finally obtained after sintering the green bodies. The size of sintered Li sub(2)TiO sub(3) pebbles with a good sphericity (D sub(max)/D sub(min) < 1.05) can be controlled precisely in a size range of 400-1000 mu m by adjusting the flow rate of disperse and continuous phases. The effects of the calcination method, sintering condition, solid content of slurry, and the particle size of Li sub(2)TiO sub(3) powder on the relative density of Li sub(2)TiO sub(3) pebbles prepared were studied in detail, and 97.16% T.D. (Theoretical Density) maximum relative density of the pebbles with 5 mu m grain size were fabricated.