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Title: AN INVESTIGATION OF TRANSMUTATION EFFECTS IN CRYSTALLINE SOLIDS

Journal Article · · Physica Status Solidi (East Germany) Divided into Phys. Status Solidi A and Phys. Status Solidi B

X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, microscopy, metallography, and thermal methods were utilized to study transmutation effects in a group of crystalline solids. Nearly homogeneous distributions of transmuted species were introduced into small single crystals of /sup 197/Au, /sup 107/Ag and /sup 115/ In, and powder samples of /sup 193/Ir, /sup 115/In/sub 2/O/sub 3/, and /sup 176/ Lu/sub 2/O/sub 3/. The crystals were irradiated in a thermal neutron flux of 4.0 x 10/sup 14/ neutrons/cm/sup 2/ sec at a temperature of approximates 85 deg C for periods of a few days to several months so that considerable fractions of transmuted species were formed. Small metal-single-crystal spheres were converted to alloy single crystals in their solid solution ranges at temperatures up to several hundred degrees below those required by normal laboratory methods in Au/sub 0.82/ Hg/sub 0.18/, Ag/sub 0.78/ Cd/sub 0.22/, and In/sub 0.95/ Sn/sub 0.05/. A powder sample of /sup 193/Ir was transformed into the solid solution alloy Ir/sub 0.68/ Pt/sub 0.32/, a high-temperature alloy, which would require a temperature in excess of 2000 deg C for its formation by laboratory methods. The production of 22.5 at.% /sup 198/Hg and /sup 199/Hg in /sup 198/Au through nuclear transmutation revealed the nucleation of Au/sub 3/Hg particles with the hcp structure, while the introduction of 29 at.% caused a recrystallization irto two unidentified phases. Long range order in single crystals of /sup 115/In was completely destroyed when 14 at.% /sup 116/Sn was introduced through nuclear transmutation. Powder specimens of In/sub 2/O/sub 3/ enriched in /sup 115/In were irradiated to produce concentrntions of /sup 116/Sn as high as 38 at.% with the result that a new phase with a smaller fluorite structure was formed which contained oxygen vacancies. The original In/sub 2/O/sub 3/ structure was largely recovered upon annealing at 1200 deg C and SnO/sub 2/ particles were precipitated. Powder samples of Lu/sub 2/O/sub 3/ cortaining /sup 176/Lu were irradiated to produce 74 at.% /sup 177/Hf and the resultant material was cubic (fluorite) with a lattice parameter approximately one-half that of the original structure. This oxygen deficient lattice was stable at temperatures up to 120 C. The results are considered in terms of the original crystal structures and known phase equilibrium systems. (auth)

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-18-017909
OSTI ID:
4048909
Journal Information:
Physica Status Solidi (East Germany) Divided into Phys. Status Solidi A and Phys. Status Solidi B, Vol. Vol: 4; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-64
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English