Fabrication of the Li₂TiO₃ tritium breeder pebbles by a capillary-based microfluidic wet process

Figures & data

Figure 1. (a) Schematic diagram of the capillary-based microfluidic device; (b1)–(b7) snapshots of the droplet formation at the outlet of the capillary tube (flow rate of continuous phase: 150 µL min⁻¹, flow rate of dispersed phase: 5 µL min⁻¹).

Figure 2. Procedure for fabricating Li₂TiO₃ pebbles.

Table 1. Composition of the solution used in this study.

		Weight
Categories	Materials	content (%)
Coagulation bath	Na2B4O7·10H2O	1.34
	Triethanolamine	20.89
	Isoamyl alcohol	33.33
	Carbon tetrachloride	44.44
Continuous phase	Dimethyl silicone oil	75
	Isoamyl alcohol	25
Dispersed phase	Li2TiO3	20–55
	Polyvinyl alcohol	1–5
	Water	44–75

Figure 3. Optical micrographs of the microspheres: (a) Li₂TiO₃ droplets produced by the capillary-based microfluidic device (flow rate of continuous phase: 150 µL min⁻¹, flow rate of dispersed phase: 5 µL min⁻¹); (b) the biggest Li₂TiO₃ droplet (flow rate of continuous phase: 150 µL min⁻¹, flow rate of dispersed phase: 10 µL min⁻¹) and smallest droplet (flow rate of continuous phase: 180 µL min⁻¹, flow rate of dispersed phase: 1 µL min⁻¹); (c) small Li₂TiO₃ pebbles after sintering at 950 °C for 3 hours; (d) big Li₂TiO₃ pebbles after sintering at 950 °C for 3 hours.

Figure 4. TG-DSC curves of the dried Li₂TiO₃ green pebble in air atmosphere.

Figure 5. Relationship between sintering temperature (a) and sintering time (b) (the sintering temperature was 950 °C) with Li₂TiO₃ pebbles density.

Figure 6. Effect of solid content of slurry on the density of Li₂TiO₃ pebbles (the sintering temperature was 950 °C and the sintering time was 3 hours).

Figure 7. Relationship between particle size of Li₂TiO₃ powder with Li₂TiO₃ pebbles density (the sintering temperature was 950 °C, the sintering time was 3 hours and the content of Li₂TiO₃ powder was 35 wt%).

Figure 8. XRD pattern of the prepared Li₂TiO₃ pebbles.

Figure 9. SEM micrographs of sintered Li₂TiO₃ pebbles: (a) surface of Li₂TiO₃ pebbles sintered at 950 °C; scale bar is 200 µm; (b)--(d) cross section of Li₂TiO₃ pebbles sintered at 950 °C, 1050 °C and 1150 °C; scale bar is 30 µm.