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.