Fabrication of Li2TiO3 ceramic pebbles with fine microstructure by microwave sintering

Lithium metatitanate (Li2TiO3) ceramic pebbles were successfully fabricated by microwave sintering using the powders synthesized via solid state reaction. Nano-size Li2TiO3 powders with an average particle size of 45 nm were synthesized by solid state reaction, and wet process was employed to fabricate Li2TiO3 pebbles with good sphericity. The pebbles were sintered by microwave process with rapid heating rate. Due to the volumetric heating and enhanced diffusion of microwave sintering, the sintered Li2TiO3 ceramic pebbles show high density (>85%T.D.), high crush load and uniform microstructure with small grain size (100 nm-1 μm), which might hold good potential in tritium release and long-term stability. The results show that the microwave sintering is a promising process for the fabrication of Li2TiO3 pebbles with fine microstructure and good mechanical property.