Compatibility of yttria (Y 2O 3) with liquid lithium

• Published in: Journal of nuclear materials Vol. 233; pp. 1421 - 1426
• Main Authors: Terai, T., Yoneoka, T., Tanaka, H., Suzuki, A., Tanaka, S., Nakamichi, M., Kawamura, H., Miyajima, K., Harada, Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-10-1996
• ISSN: 0022-3115; 1873-4820
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3115(96)00257-7

Compatibility of sintered specimens and plasma sprayed coating specimens, of Y
2O
3 with liquid lithium was tested at 773 K. No configuration change was observed for the sintered specimens with a slight increase of thickness for 1419 h. Lithium—yttrium complex oxide (LiYO
2) was formed on the surface, and the inner part changed to gray or black nonstoichiometry Y
2O
3−
x
with lower electrical resistivity. The plasma sprayed coating specimens were severely attacked by liquid lithium with or without applied electric field. Lithium penetrated into the coating layer through small cracks and reacted on Y
2O
3 to form LiYO
2, which has a different density from Y
2O
3 and is more brittle than Y
2O
3. It is concluded that Y
2O
3 has a possibility as a ceramic coating material for liquid blankets if it can be made into a dense coating on the surface of piping materials.