Surrogate studies of the Pu-Be reaction II
Unusual circumstances could result in contact between molten Pu and solid Be components. Since intimate contact between Pu and Be results in an intense neutron source via the ({alpha},n) reaction it is very difficult to study the kinetics of the Pu-Be interaction. The published Pu-Be phase diagram is characterized by a single intermetallic compound, PuBe{sub 13} which exists in equilibrium with all of the Pu allotropes, and two eutectics with no measurable solubility range in any of the solid phases. This pattern is known to be followed by all of the rare earths, and some of the actinides. Although most of these phase diagrams are poorly defined in terms of solubility and the location of the eutectics, all have been characterized to the extent of having a single intermetallic compound with a melting point in excess of 1,500 C. Consequently it seems reasonable that by studying the reactions of these other metals with Be, it should be possible to predict kinetics and mechanisms of the Pu-Be interaction using known physical and thermodynamic properties. The most obvious difference between Pu and potential surrogate elements is in their melting points. This is not the most important consideration however due to the presence of the two eutectics in each of the M-Be systems (where M is used to refer to any of the surrogates). In the last meeting of this series the authors reported the results of studies using Yb as a surrogate for Pu. Here they will discuss the results obtained using Sm and Ce and contrast them with the earlier results as well as with Pu-Be experiments conducted using very similar experimental conditions.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 658325
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-97-3885; CONF-970982-; ON: DE98001534; TRN: AHC2DT06%%209
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 21. aging, compatibility, and stockpile stewardship conference, Albuquerque, NM (United States), 30 Sep - 2 Oct 1997; Other Information: PBD: Sep 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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