Phase Transitions in Pure Plutonium

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe five solid-solid phase transformations of pure Pu are typically represented in idealized thermal expansion plots as having sharp onsets and finishes with linear expansion behavior between the transitions. These behaviors are in reality less common, and the various transitions may have bursting behavior, curved onsets and finishes, and non-linear thermal expansion. In this presentation we will review the transformation behavior of diverse set of pure Pu types. These types include zone-refined pure Pu, electro-refined pure Pu, pure Pu doped with 1000 appm Ga, and alpha-phase Pu within an as-cast 1.9 atomic. % Ga alloy.