THE THERMAL CYCLING BEHAVIOR OF LITHIUM TITANATE

Lithium titanate (Li2TiO3) is being evaluated as a candidate material in the Canadian Breeder Blanket concept. This study examined the thermal cycling behaviour of 1.2 mm pebbles sintered at two temperatures and fabricated from powders with different characteristics. Pebbles were characterised by mercury porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and the compressive load required for fracture (fracture load). They were cycled sixty times between 200 and 1000 degrees C in air at 150 degrees C/h, with samples removed at various stages of the test. Generally, there was a degradation in the fracture load values and a decrease in the bulk density of the pebbles. Trends in the evolution of the microstructure and physical properties of the pebbles will be given.