Rapid Fabrication of Li₂TiO₃ Pebbles via Microwave-Induced Combustion Process and 3D Printing

Li₂TiO₃ has been recognized as one of the most promising tritium breeding materials for D-T fusion reactor blanket. In this study, ultra-fine Li₂TiO₃ powder was prepared rapidly by microwave-induced solution combustion synthesis (MSCS) using nitrates of lithium and titanate as raw materials, citric acid as fuel. The as-synthesized Li₂TiO₃ powder exhibits an average crystalline size as small as 20 nm with uniform distribution. Computer-assisted 3D printing technology was employed to fabricate Li₂TiO₃ ceramic breeding pebbles. This computer-assisted process is precise, efficient and controllable, which offers an alternative for the mass production of Li₂TiO₃ pebbles. The pebbles exhibit good sphericity, relatively small grain size, preferable sinterability and crushing load strength.