Characterizations of Li2TiO3 prepared by a solution combustion synthesis and fabrication of spherical particles by dry-rolling granulation process

Lithium titanate (Li2TiO3) pebbles are developed as a ceramic breeder material of ITER test blanket module (TBM) for DEMO reactor. Fine and single crystalline Li2TiO3 powders were prepared by a solution combustion synthesis process and a new dry-rolling granulation process was investigated. The as-synthesized powders were compacted without a binder and sintered to a high density at a relatively low temperature (< 1100 degrees C) and short sintering time. The characteristics were examined with XRD, BET, dilatometer and SEM. Process parameters on the dry-rolling granulation process affected the characteristics of the spherical pebbles. The advantages of this process are simplicity, continuity and purity. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.