Equilibria and thermodynamic properties of the plutonium-hydrogen system

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5709833

Haschke, J M; Hodges, III, A E; Smith, C M; Oetting, F L

Equilibrium, kinetic and x ray diffraction data show the existence of two stability regimes in the Pu-H system. A metastable solid solution between CaF/sub 2/-type PuH/sub 1/ /sub 9/ and anti-Fe/sub 3/Al-type PuH/sub 3/ /sub 0/ forms at low temperature and behaves as an ideal solid solution. Equilibrium and calorimetric results show that the enthalpy of formation varies linearly from -38 to -50 kcal/mol between the lower phase boundary and the trihydride. The phase relationships established at high temperature are similar to those of the lanthanide difluoride-lanthanide trifluoride systems. A series of CaF/sub 2/-related phases apparently forms between PuH/sub 1/ /sub 9/ and PuH/sub 2/ /sub 5/; a nonstoichiometric hexagonal (LaF/sub 3/-type) hydride exists in the range PuH/sub 2/ /sub 9/-PuH/sub 3/ /sub 0/. A procedure for preparing pure hexagonal puH/sub 3/ /sub 00/ is described, and the hysteresis behavior of the Pu-H system is discussed.

• Research Organization: Rockwell International Corp., Golden, CO (USA). Rocky Flats Plant
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-3533
• OSTI ID: 5709833
• Report Number(s): RFP-2980; CONF-800402-2; TRN: 80-005223
• Resource Relation: Conference: International symposium on the properties and applications of metal hydrides, Colorado Springs, CO, USA, 7 Apr 1980
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
PLUTONIUM HYDRIDES
EQUILIBRIUM
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
SOLID SOLUTIONS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
DISPERSIONS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MIXTURES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
SOLUTIONS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
400702* - Radiochemistry & Nuclear Chemistry- Properties of Radioactive Materials