Evidence that alpha-phase plutonium is a 9R martensite

Technical Report · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7311509· OSTI ID:7311509

Sandenaw, T A

We suggest that there may be different precursors of the alpha phase of plutonium in the martensitic delta ..-->.. ..cap alpha.. transformation, depending upon whether the metastable delta-phase alloy is compressed or cooled below ambient. The precursors may be either the orthorhombic (..gamma..) phase, which is observed, or an hcp structure which can transform rapidly to alpha. We postulate that the martensitically formed alpha phase of plutonium (delta ..-->.. ..cap alpha.. or ..beta.. ..-->.. ..cap alpha..) has the characteristics of a modified 9R martensite. The development of such a structure can explain the anomalous low-temperature physical property behavior of both ..cap alpha..-Pu and its delta-phase stabilized alloys.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 7311509
• Report Number(s): LA-6764-MS; TRN: 77-011391
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
PLUTONIUM-ALPHA
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
ACTINIDES
ELEMENTS
METALS
PLUTONIUM
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
360102* - Metals & Alloys- Structure & Phase Studies
400702 - Radiochemistry & Nuclear Chemistry- Properties of Radioactive Materials