Angular Properties of Lithium Titanate Particles - An Experimental Study

Angle of repose and angle of internal friction are two important macroscopic parameters in characterizing granular materials and reliable flow index in fluidization studies. This paper presents an experimental study to measure the angular properties, namely, angle of repose and angle of internal friction of lithium titanate (Li₂TiO₃) and silica particles. Lithium titanate is a primary contender for the solid breeder material for fusion reactors. Experimental results showed that the angle of repose of fine Li₂TiO₃ particles increases with increase in particle size, whereas the angle of internal friction decreases with increase in particle size. It was observed that the angle of repose varies in the range 31.7 to 35.62 deg, whereas angle of internal friction varies in the range 74.3 to 76.3 deg. A relationship between angle of repose and angle of internal friction for Li₂TiO₃ has been established. These results are useful to understand the flow characteristics of Li₂TiO₃ particles in a gas fluidized bed.