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Physical Property Changes in Aging Plutonium Alloys

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Brandon W. Chung ,
Stephen R. Thompson  and
David S. Hiromoto
Brandon W. Chung
Affiliation:
chung7@llnl.gov, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, CMELS, L-359, 7000 East Ave., Livermore, CA, 94551, United States, 925-423-3896, 925-424-2491
Stephen R. Thompson
Affiliation:
thompson21@llnl.gov, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94551, United States
David S. Hiromoto
Affiliation:
hiromoto1@llnl.gov, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94551, United States
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Abstract

Plutonium, because of its self-irradiation by alpha decay, ages by means of lattice damage and helium in-growth. These integrated aging effects will result in microstructural and physical property changes. Because these effects would normally require decades to measure, studies are underway to asses the effects of extended aging on the physical properties of plutonium alloys by incorporating roughly 7.5 wt% of highly specific activity isotope 238Pu into the weapons-grade plutonium to accelerate the aging process. This paper presents updated results of self-irradiation effects on enriched and reference alloys measured from the immersion density, dilatometry, and mechanical tests. After nearly 90 equivalent years of aging, both the immersion density and dilatometry show that the enriched alloys at 35°C have decreased in density by ∼0.19 % and now exhibit a near linear density decrease, without void swelling. Both tensile and compression measurements show that the aging process continues to increase the strength of plutonium alloys.

Keywords

Puactinideradiation effects
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1104: Symposium NN – Actinides 2008—Basic Science, Applications and Technology , 2008 , 1104-NN07-05
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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