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Structural Investigation of δ-stabilized Plutonium Alloys Under Pressure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Philippe Faure ,
Vincent Klosek ,
Claudine Genestier ,
Nathalie Baclet ,
Steve Heathman ,
Peter Normile  and
Richard Haire
Philippe Faure
Affiliation:
ph.faure@laposte.net, CEA, Valduc, Is Sur Tille, Cote d'Or, 21120, France
Vincent Klosek
Affiliation:
vincent.klosek@cea.fr, CEA – Valduc, F-21120 Is-sur-Tille, France
Claudine Genestier
Affiliation:
claudine.genestier@cea.fr, CEA – Valduc, F-21120 Is-sur-Tille, France
Nathalie Baclet
Affiliation:
nathalie.baclet@cea.fr, CEA – Valduc, F-21120 Is-sur-Tille
Steve Heathman
Affiliation:
heathman@itu.fzk.de, Institute for Transuranium Elements, Postfach 2340, D-76125 Karlsruhe, Germany
Peter Normile
Affiliation:
normile@itu.fzk.de, Institute for Transuranium Elements, Postfach 2340, D-76125 Karlsruhe, Germany
Richard Haire
Affiliation:
hairerg@ornl.gov, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, CSD, PO Box 2008, MS-6375, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831
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Abstract

The mechanism responsible for the stability of the delta-phase in plutonium alloys remains poorly understood despite previous extensive studies. In the present experiments, three alloys (Pu-8at%Am, Pu-15at%Am and Pu-2at%Ga) were studied under pressure by X-ray diffraction in diamond anvil cells and revealed i) a pressure-induced softening in the compressibility of the delta-phase and ii) the presence of an intermediate γ’-phase across the δ → α’ phase transition. The softening, an anomalous behaviour, is shown to be coherent with other known unusual properties found for these alloys like NTE (Negative Thermal Expansion). Furthermore, it has been observed that the cell volume for the α’-phase formed under pressure depends on the rate of the pressure increase. This behaviour may be related to the diffusion of solute atoms to specific sites within the α’-phase unit cell. Such diffusion may also explain the α’-phase unit cell’s volume shrinkage versus time in a Pu-2at%Ga sample kept at a constant pressure.

These XRD results, obtained under pressure, may be used to test first-principle calculations or other general modelling which aim at predicting the solute’s diffusion and/or self-irradiation effects in plutonium alloys.

Keywords

phase transformationPux-ray diffraction (XRD)
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 893: Symposium JJ – Actinides 2005 – Basic Science, Applications and Technology , 2005 , 0893-JJ06-01
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

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