Fabrication and characterization of Li3TaO4 ceramic pebbles by wet process

Lithium-containing ceramics have long been recognized as the tritium breeding materials in the fusion–fission or fusion reactor blanket. Li3TaO4 (lithium orthotantalate) pebbles, with high melting point (∼1406 °C), good thermal stability, and high thermal conductivity, were fabricated by wet process (freeze–drying) as a new potential candidate of tritium breeder. The diameter of ceramic pebbles is 0.7–1.0 mm, density is over 90% (TD), pore diameter is 1.86 μm (a.v), grain size is 15 μm (a.v), crush load is up to 46.7 N (a.v).