Liquid lithium-tin (Li-Sn) alloys are being considered in alternative concepts of plasma facing components for nuclear fusion applications. Nevertheless, the high Li content and high melting temperature of Li-rich intermetallics may hinder their use due to a possible excessive evaporation of Li to the vessel with evident issues in fuel retention. Their formation was inhibited in this study in homogeneous alloys with Li contents as higher as 5 at.% via a mechanical alloying route of pure Li and Sn sources. A 50 at.% Li-Sn master powder was initially prepared and diluted afterwards with pure Sn to achieve the final compositions. The structure, elemental composition and homogeneity of the alloys were assessed by scanning electron microscopy, ion beam analysis and X-ray diffraction. 5 at.% Li and 1 at.% Li alloys composed by phases with low melting temperatures, LiSn, Li₂Sn₅ and β-Sn, mainly, were produced with reduced oxygen and metallic impurity contents.

在核聚变应用的面向等离子体的组件的替代概念中，正在考虑使用液态锂锡（Li-Sn）合金。然而，由于可能会过度地蒸发Li到容器中，而在保留燃料方面存在明显问题，因此富含Li的金属间化合物的高Li含量和高熔化温度可能会阻碍其使用。在本研究中，通过纯Li和Sn源的机械合金化途径，在Li含量高达5 at。％的均质合金中，抑制了它们的形成。最初准备了50 at。％的Li-Sn母粉，然后用纯锡稀释，以达到最终的组成。通过扫描电子显微镜，离子束分析和X射线衍射评估合金的结构，元素组成和均质性。锂5 at。％和1 at。主要以减少的氧和金属杂质含量生产₂ Sn ₅和β-Sn。