EXOTIC-7: Irradiation of ceramic breeder materials to high lithium burnup

Abstract The EXOTIC-7 irradiation experiment in the high flux reactor (HFR) has been completed. Its aim has been to investigate the effects of high lithium-burnup on the mechanical stability and tritium release characteristics of candidate ceramic breeder materials, originating from the fusion programmes of CEA, FZK, ENEA, AECL and ECN. The tested ceramic breeder materials were pellets of Li 2 ZrO 3 , LiAlO 2 and Li 8 ZrO 6 and pebbles of Li 4 SiO 4 and Li 2 ZrO 3 , with a variety of characteristics, like grain size and porosity. The test matrix provided the simultaneous irradiation of eight independent capsules with on-line tritium monitoring. Two capsules contained a mixture of Li 4 SiO 4 and beryllium pebbles. The experimental design, sample loading and main irradiation parameters are described. Some PIE results and analysis of in-situ tritium release behaviour are presented.