To facilitate dimensional control of granules and to easily obtain small granules in large quantities by using a powdery Li2CO3-ZrO2 mixture as starting material and heat-treating calcined granules at a specified temp. in the air for a specified time at the time of sintering.
An aq. soln. of a polymer resin compd., which gels in acetone liq. bath, is used as a carrier soln. and a powdery Li2CO3-ZrO2 mixture is dispersed in the carrier soln. to prepare a stock soln. This stock soln. is dropped into acetone to form gel particles contg. dispersed Li2CO3 and ZrO2. The water is removed from the particles and the polymer resin compd. is burned and removed by heating to form calcined granules of dispersed Li2CO3 and ZrO2. The calcined granules are then heat-treated at 1,300-1,500°C in the air for 4-10 hr. By this heat treatment, the Li2CO3 and ZrO2 are subjected to sintering reaction to form Li2ZrO3 and CO2 and the objective small Li2ZrO3 sintered granules are obtd.
TSUCHIYA KUNIHIKO
OHASHI JUNPEI
FUCHINOUE KATSUHIRO
SAWADA HIROSHI
NUCLEAR FUEL IND LTD
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