Sintering and creep behavior of Li2TiO3 pebble bed for breeding blanket of fusion reactor

•Sintering and creep phenomena of breeder pebble bed can affect the flow path of purge gas and the tritium extraction from the breeder.•Even though Li2TiO3 pebble bed was located in initial stage of sintering, it is confirmed that densification of pebble bed caused by creep deformation progressed.•To maintain uniform flow path of purge gas inside pebble bed, it is recommended that maximum operating temperature and compression pressure of Li2TiO3 pebble bed be 800 °C and 1 MPa.