Solid Tritium Breeder Materials-Li₂O and LiAlO₂: A Data Base Review

The fabrication, properties, and irradiation behavior of Li₂O and γ-LiAlO₂ are reviewed and assessed to determine the potential of these materials to satisfy the basic solid breeder blanket performance requirements. Based on the data analysis and theoretical modeling, a set of major technical uncertainties is identified. These uncertainties include

1. fabricability of sphere-pac solid breeders
2. highfluence and burnup effects on thermal conductivity and microstructural stability
3. highfluence and burnup effects on tritium diffusion coefficients at low temperature
4. relationship among purge flow chemistry, surface adsorption, and species of released tritium
5. mechanical properties and the loads imposed on the structural materials by the breeder during blanket operation.

Resolution of these issues is important in assuring that solid breeder blankets can be designed with confidence.