Rapid preparation of tritium breeder material Li2TiO3 pebbles by thermal plasma

A route to obtain tritium breeder material Li2TiO3 pebbles in one step was investigated using a direct-current (DC) thermal plasma system. For this purpose, irregular and agglomerate powders were used as raw powders which were injected into DC thermal plasma torch with a plasma power level of similar to 18 kW. The morphology, particles size distribution and phase change of the prepared Li2TiO3 pebbles were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that prepared Li2TiO3 pebbles presented excellent spherical degree with average size about 100 mu m and the spheroidization rate was close to 100%. The XRD patterns demonstrated that higher degree of crystallinity of Li2TiO3 pebbles could be obtained by thermal plasma processed. Formation mechanism of Li2TiO3 pebbles in DC thermal plasma system was discussed. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.