Studies of two-phase lithium ceramics Li4SiO4-Li2TiO3 under conditions of neutron irradiation

Kulsartov, T.; Zaurbekova, Zhanna; Knitter, Regina; Shaimerdenov, A.A.; Chikhray, Y.; Askerbekov, Saulet; Akhanov, Assyl; Kenzhina, I.; Ķizāne, Gunta; Kenzhin, Yergazy; Aitkulov, M.T.; Sairanbayev, D. S.; Gordienko, Yuriy; Ponkratov, Yu.V.

doi:10.1016/j.nme.2022.101129

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…In previous works [4][5][6][7], it was assumed that such a peak release of gases with the mass number M4 was due to methodological peculiarities of measurements, and the peak releases themselves were not analyzed (only the lower trend of release was). However, later, in [8,10], it was shown that this release is associated with helium peak releases from ceramics. In these studies, two mass spectrometers were used at selected time intervals in the experiment in order to exclude methodologically determined errors in the measurements.…”

Section: Results Of the Reactor Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Features of Helium and Tritium Release from Li2TiO3 Ceramic Pebbles under Neutron Irradiation

Kulsartov,

Zaurbekova,

Chikhray

et al. 2023

Materials

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The operation of fusion reactors is based on the reaction that occurs when two heavy hydrogen isotopes, deuterium and tritium, combine to form helium and a neutron with an energy of 14.1 MeV D + T → He + n. For this reaction to occur, it is necessary to produce tritium in the facility itself, as tritium is not common in nature. The generation of tritium in the facility is a key function of the breeder blanket. During the operation of a D–T fusion reactor, high-energy tritium is generated as a result of the 6Li(n,α)T reaction in a lithium-containing ceramic material in the breeder blanket. Lithium metatitanate Li2TiO3 is proposed as one of the promising materials for use in the solid breeder blanket of the DEMO reactor. Several concepts for test blanket modules based on lithium ceramics are being developed for testing at the ITER reactor. Lithium metatitanate Li2TiO3 has good tritium release parameters, as well as good thermal and thermomechanical characteristics. The most important property of lithium ceramics Li2TiO3 is its ability to withstand exposure to long-term high-energy radiation at high temperatures and across large temperature gradients. Its inherent thermal stability and chemical inertness are significant advantages in terms of safety concerns. This study was a continuation of research regarding tritium and helium release from lithium metatitanate Li2TiO3 with 96% 6Li during irradiation at the WWR-K research reactor using the vacuum extraction method. As a result of the analysis of experiments regarding the irradiation of lithium metatitanate in vacuum conditions, it has been established that, during irradiation, peak releases of helium from closed pores of the ceramics are observed, which open during the first 7 days of irradiation. The authors assumed that the reasons samples crack are temperature gradients over the ceramic sample, resulting from the internal heating of pebbles under the conditions of their vacuum evacuation, and contact with the bottom of the evacuated capsule. The temperature dependence of the effective diffusion coefficient of tritium in ceramics at the end of irradiation and the parameters of helium effusion were also determined.

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Section: Results Of the Reactor Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Data obtained in experiments using two-phase lithium ceramics [8,10] allowed a new evaluation of the results of the presented experiment using Li2TiO3 + 5 mol% TiO2 ceramics.…”

Section: Analysis Of Helium Release From a Ceramic Pebblementioning

confidence: 99%

Features of Helium and Tritium Release from Li2TiO3 Ceramic Pebbles under Neutron Irradiation

Kulsartov,

Zaurbekova,

Chikhray

et al. 2023

Materials

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“…Additionally, there is a degradation in thermophysical properties attributable to an elevation in scattering factors during the phonon-based heat transfer mechanism. It is noteworthy to mention that in the context of nuclear reactions between lithium and tritium, helium accumulation as shown in several works [15,16], exhibits a non-linear behavior over time, often occurring abruptly and leading to gas emissions, including helium, hydrogen, and tritium. This observation suggests that the mechanisms behind helium accumulation and subsequent swelling are not fully comprehended, necessitating further detailed experimentation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study of the Resistance of Lithium-Containing Ceramics to Helium Swelling

Kozlovskiy,

Shlimas,

Borgekov

et al. 2024

Ceramics

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The paper presents the results of studies of the resistance of lithium ceramics to helium swelling during its accumulation in the structure of the near-surface layer, and the identification of the three types of lithium ceramics most resistant to radiation degradation: Li4SiO4, Li2TiO3, and Li2ZrO3. The simulation of helium swelling under high-dose irradiation was carried out by irradiation with He2+ ions with fluences of 1 × 1016 ion/cm2–5 × 1017 ion/cm2, which allows for simulating the implanted helium accumulation with a high concentration in the damaged surface layer (about 500 nm thick). The samples were irradiated at a temperature of 1000 K, the choice of which was determined by the possibility of simulating radiation damage as close as possible to real operating conditions. Such accumulation can result in the formation of gas-filled bubbles. Through the application of X-ray phase analysis, indentation testing, and thermophysical parameter assessments, it was ascertained that among the three ceramic types, Li4SiO4 ceramics exhibit the highest resistance to helium-induced swelling. These ceramics experienced less significant alterations in their properties compared to the other two types. An analysis of the correlation between the structural and strength parameters of lithium-containing ceramics revealed that the most significant changes occur when the volumetric swelling of the crystal lattice becomes the dominant factor in structural alterations. This phenomenon is manifested as an accelerated degradation of strength characteristics, exceeding 10%. At the same time, analysis of these alterations in the stability of thermophysical parameters to the accumulation of structural distortions revealed that, regardless of the type of ceramics, the degradation of thermophysical properties is most pronounced under high-dose irradiation (above 1017 ion/cm2).

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“…Moreover, most experts in this field agree that the use of lithium or lithium-containing ceramics will completely solve the problem of tritium fuel for thermonuclear energy, since lithium reserves will last for quite a long time [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. The creation of blankets based on lithium ceramics must meet a number of requirements, the most significant of which are high mechanical strength and resistance to cracking and destruction under prolonged irradiation or temperature changes, excellent thermal conductivity, and increased resistance to thermal expansion (linear and volumetric) [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Of the currently known lithium ceramics, it is possible to single out ceramics based on lithium metazirconate, which, on account of the properties of zirconium oxide, not only have a higher resistance to destruction under external influences, including radiation embrittlement, but also thermophysical parameters that make it possible to influence the modes of use and service life [ 17 , 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesis and Structural and Strength Properties of xLi2ZrO3-(1-x)MgO Ceramics—Materials for Blankets

et al. 2023

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The article considers the effect of doping with magnesium oxide (MgO) on changes in the properties of lithium-containing ceramics based on lithium metazirconate (Li2ZrO3). There is interest in this type of ceramics on account of their prospects for application in tritium production in thermonuclear power engineering, as well as several other applications related to alternative energy sources. During the investigations undertaken, it was found that variation in the MgO dopant concentration above 0.10–0.15 mol resulted in the formation of impurity inclusions in the ceramic structure in the form of a MgLi2ZrO4 phase, the presence of which resulted in a rise in the density of the ceramics, along with elevation in resistance to external influences. Moreover, during experimental work on the study of the thermal stability of the ceramics to external influences, it was found that the formation of two-phase ceramics resulted in growth in the preservation of stable strength properties during high-temperature cyclic tests. The decrease in strength characteristics was observed to be less than 1%.

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Studies of two-phase lithium ceramics Li4SiO4-Li2TiO3 under conditions of neutron irradiation

Cited by 7 publications

References 22 publications

Features of Helium and Tritium Release from Li2TiO3 Ceramic Pebbles under Neutron Irradiation

Features of Helium and Tritium Release from Li2TiO3 Ceramic Pebbles under Neutron Irradiation

Study of the Resistance of Lithium-Containing Ceramics to Helium Swelling

Synthesis and Structural and Strength Properties of xLi2ZrO3-(1-x)MgO Ceramics—Materials for Blankets

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