Fabrication and characterization of advanced neutron multipliers for DEMO blanket

Abstract

Prototypic pebbles with Be12V composition, which do not undergo a peritectic reaction during cooling, were fabricated and characterized, because this composition is not only unnecessary for the homogenization treatment, but also able to prevent increase of specific surface area. The results of granulation experiments indicated that the prototypic pebbles of single-phase Be12V were successfully fabricated without a homogenization treatment. The results of hydrogen generation reaction experiments showed that the prototypic pebbles with Be12V composition exhibited superior oxidation properties compared to pure Be pebbles and similar to those of as-granulated Be–Ti beryllide pebbles: as-granulated Be12V pebbles exhibited good resistance to water vapor. The results of deuterium retention experiments indicated that beryllides exhibit lower deuterium-trapping efficiency than other tested materials. Because of a small desorption from beryllides, the total retention of deuterium in Be12V was evaluated to be approximately 20% of that in pure Be.

Keywords

• Neutron multipliers
• Beryllium intermetallic compounds
• Beryllides
• Reactivity with water vapor
• Deuterium retention