Study by XRD of the lattice swelling of PuGa alloys induced by self-irradiation

Nature of the5fstates in actinide metals

“…It may simply be that the differences between new and old Pu are too small to detect within experimental uncertainties of spectroscopy. Alternatively, either significantly older specimens with more damage may be required to observe an effect, or very new samples given that results show the lattice constant rapidly changes in the first three months (Chung et al, 2006b;Ravat et al, 2007;.…”

Atomistic simulation of interactions of fracture with defect clusters in delta-Pu

“…These defects will cause macroscopic changes, such as decreasing density, dimension expansion, hardening and creeping [3][4][5][6][7][8]. Wolfer et al [9][10][11][12][13][14][15] investigated the evolution for lattice parameter of Ga-stabilized -Pu alloy, the volume expansion, and the effect of pressure on the phase stability of Pu-Ga alloy system during self-irradiation, or aging by X-ray diffraction, dilatometer, and isochronal annealing technique, and they observed that the sample occurred   ′ Martensitic transition.…”

“…Many excellent reports focus on the displacement cascade evolution of 85 keV U recoil nucleus produced by 239 Pu  decay [8,[17][18][19][20]; on the point defects (such as vacancy, SIA and their clusters) microstructural configurations and recombination behaviors; the He-vacancy cluster and the three-dimensional He bubble nucleation [21][22][23][24]; the volumetric swelling induced by the defect clusters, remnants of the large collision cascades that the U recoils produce, the He bubbles and the voids; the Pu-Ga phase diagram, especially the   ' Martensitic transition at subambient temperature in Pu alloys; and on the lattice parameters and the volumetric swelling as a function of the Ga atomic content during the aging of Pu-Ga alloys [1,7,9,12]. However, little attention is paid to the fracture in pure  phase Pu metals or Ga-stabilized -Pu alloys.…”

Gallium removal during pyrochemical reprocessing of weapons plutonium into oxide fuel

“…However, the use of such fuel in thermal reactors is too inefficient [1]. Ultimately, fast reactors which will make it possible to use plutonium cost-effectively and in an ecologically well-substantiated manner as well as weapons and tailings uranium in the form of mixed fuel will play the dominant role in nuclear power.Weapons plutonium is a plutonium-gallium alloy [2][3][4][5]. The addition of several percent gallium to plutonium is necessary to stabilize the δ modification of plutonium and to impart the required mechanical properties to weapons plutonium.…”

“…Weapons plutonium is a plutonium-gallium alloy [2][3][4][5]. The addition of several percent gallium to plutonium is necessary to stabilize the δ modification of plutonium and to impart the required mechanical properties to weapons plutonium.…”