Mechanical strength and stability of lithium aluminate

Technical Report · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5210985· OSTI ID:5210985

Brimhall, J L

Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) investigated the strength and resistance to thermal shock of lithium aluminate annular pellets. The room temperature, axial compressive fracture strength of pellets made at Westinghouse Advanced Energy Systems (WAES) varied from 80 to 133 ksi. The strength at 430{degrees}C (806{degrees}F) was to 30 to 40% lower. The strength at 900{degrees}C (1652{degrees}F) showed a wide variation with one measurement near 90 ksi. These strength values are consistent with other data and predictions made in the literature when the grain size and porosity of the microstructure are taken into account. In diametral compression tests, the fracture strengths were much lower due to the existence of tensile stresses in some pellet regions from this type of loading. However, the fracture stresses were still generally higher than those reported in the literature; this fracture resistance probably reflects the better quality of the pellets tested in this study. Measurements on pellets made at PNL indicated lower strengths compared to the WAES material. This strength difference could be accounted for by different processing technologies: material made at PNL was cold-pressed and sintered with high porosity whereas the WAES material was isostatically hot-pressed with high density. Thermal shocking of the material by ramping to 900{degrees}C in two minutes did not have an observable effect on the microstructure or the strength of any of the pellets.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5210985
• Report Number(s): PNL-8088; ON: DE92015998
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACCIDENTS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINATES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
COMPRESSION STRENGTH
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LOSS OF COOLANT
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PELLETS
PRODUCTION REACTORS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTORS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMAL SHOCK