Oxidation of titanium beryllide fabricated by plasma-sintering method

Abstract

It is imperative to establish the blanket technologies for realization of D-T fusion reactors. The neutron multiplier in the fusion reactor blankets plays one of the key roles with regard to breeding of tritium. Metallic beryllium has been considered as a primary candidate for the neutron multiplier, but it is highly reactive with water vapor and oxygen at high temperatures producing H2 and BeO. Thus, it is necessary to develop more advanced neutron multipliers that are more chemically stable than metallic beryllium. One of the intermetallic compounds of beryllium and titanium, Be12Ti, possesses high tolerance to water vapor and oxygen, low swelling property, and better compatibility with structural materials. Thus, it could be an alternative of metallic beryllium. However, few experimental data are available for this material, and thus more experimental studies need to be performed to evaluate its performance as a neutron multiplier. In this study, a Be12Ti sample was fabricated by a new production route, plasma-sintering method, and of which reactivity with O2 and H2O was examined. Experimental results suggest that the Be12Ti sample prepared by the new production route possesses high resistance to oxidation by O2 and H2O.