Sintering properties of beryllides for advanced neutron multiplier

Nakamichi, Masaru; Yonehara, Kazuo

Advanced neutron multipliers with lower swelling and higher stability at high temperature are desired in pebble bed blankets. Beryllides are the most promising advanced neutron multipliers. However, beryllide is too brittle. The establishment of the fabrication technique for beryllides is a key issue. In this study, it reports on the preliminary results of beryllide synthetic using a plasma sintering method. The plasma sintering results in starting powder particle surface activation that enhances powder particle sinterability and reduces high temperature exposure. Preliminary sintering test of TiAl intermetallic as an alternative material of beryllide was carried out. The formations of Ti-Al intermetallics were identified. From the result of this preliminary sintering test, it is assumed that the intermetallic compound as beryllide could be directly synthesized by the plasma sintering method from mixed powder particles of Be and Ti at a lower temperature than melting point.