A. R. Abbasian - Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran
M. R. Rahimipour - Ceramic Department, Materials and Energy Research Center, Karaj, ۳۱۷۸۷-۳۱۶, Iran
Z. Hamnabard - Lasers and Optics Research School, NSTRI, Tehran, ۱۱۳۶۵-۸۴۸۶, Iran

In this work, lithium meta titanate (Li۲TiO۳) nanocrystallites were synthesized by hydrothermal method and subsequent heat treatment. The shrinkage of the powder compact was measured under constant heating rate in order to study the sintering behavior of the synthesized powders. Densification curves of the synthesized powders were also constructed via the dilatometry analysis and evaluated at several heating rates. Two separate methods of analytical procedure and master curve sintering were employed to determine the activation energy of the initial sintering stage. The activation energy values were estimated based on these two distinct methods as ۲۲۹±۱۴ and ۲۳۰ kJ/mol respectively, consistenting with each other. Moreover, surface diffusion was determined as the dominant mechanism of densification on initial sintering of Li۲TiO۳ nanocrystallites.

Tritium breeding, Sintering, Activation energy, Nano, dilatometry, Li۲TiO۳ nanocrystallites