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Phase Transformation Hysteresis in a Plutonium Alloy System: Modeling the Resistivity during the Transformation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2011

Jeffery J. Haslam ,
Mark A. Wall ,
David L. Johnson ,
David J. Mayhall  and
Adam J. Schwartz
Jeffery J. Haslam
Affiliation:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA 94550
Mark A. Wall
Affiliation:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA 94550
David L. Johnson
Affiliation:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA 94550
David J. Mayhall
Affiliation:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA 94550
Adam J. Schwartz
Affiliation:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA 94550
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Abstract

We have induced, measured, and modeled the β - α' martensitic transformation in a Pu-Ga alloy by a resistivity technique on a 2.8-mm diameter disk sample. Our measurements of the resistance by a 4-probe technique were consistent with the expected resistance obtained from a finite element analysis of the 4-point measurement of resistivity in our round disk configuration. Analysis by finite element methods of the postulated configuration of α' particles within model σ grains suggests that a considerable anisotropy in the resistivity may be obtained depending on the arrangement of the α' lens shaped particles within the grains. The resistivity of these grains departs from the series resistance model and can lead to significant errors in the predicted amount of the α' phase present in the microstructure. An underestimation of the amount of α' in the sample by 15%, or more, appears to be possible.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 699: Symposium R – Electrically Based Microstructural Characterization III , 2001 , R2.7
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2002

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References

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