Fabrication of fine‐grained Li2TiO3 ceramic with enhanced performance using high‐energy ball milling

Abstract

AbstractNumerous efforts have been made to fabricate Li2TiO3 tritium breeding ceramics with satisfactory density and mechanical strength while maintaining a fine grain structure. In this study, high‐energy ball milling was performed to promote grain refinement and amorphization of TiO2 and Li2CO3 powders, thereby preparing Li2TiO3 ceramic at a reduced sintering temperature. In the presence of high‐energy ball milling, powder mixtures with particle sizes of 24–29 nm were obtained, and the formation of β‐Li2TiO3 occurred at 400°C. The relative density and crushing load of Li2TiO3 ceramic pebbles improved as the ball‐to‐powder ratio and milling time increased. The Li2TiO3 ceramic pebbles sintered at 900°C exhibited a tiny grain size, satisfactory relative density (89%), and excellent crushing load (121 ± 13 N). The results also demonstrated that Li2TiO3 ceramic possessed the maximum thermal conductivity and ionic conductivity under the conditions of a 20:1 ball‐to‐powder ratio and 20 h milling time, that is, 5.028 W/m·K and 1.87×10−2 S/m at room temperature. Overall, the high‐energy ball milling process has shown advantages in the fabrication of tritium breeding ceramics with fine‐grained structure and excellent comprehensive performance.