A 30 year-old PuF4 sample consisting of brown powder (PuF4-b) and pink granules (PuF4-p) was analyzed. X-ray difraction shows the bulk is comprised of three compounds: PuF4, PuO2, and PuF4·1.6H2O. Broadening of PuF4 XRD peaks suggests possible a-damage. After annealing at 650 °C, crystalline PuF4 and PuO2 remain. Thermogravimetric analysis and diferential scanning calorimetry—with simultaneous evolved gas analysis—of the separated PuF4-p and PuF4-b components reveal a distinct sequence of reactions. Dehydration occurs between~90 and 300 °C. Exothermic annealing of the a-damage occurs in two stages: at 350–355 °C and at 555–558 °C. Hydrofuoric acid, fuorine and helium desorb during the frst exotherm. Above 700 °C, PuF4 reacts with PuO2, resulting in oxygen release and mass loss.
Wayne, David M., et al. "X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and evolved gas analysis of aged plutonium tetrafluoride (PuF4)." Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, vol. 329, no. 2, Aug. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07810-z
Wayne, David M., Stritzinger, Jared, Casella, Amanda J., Sweet, Lucas E., Corbey, Jordan F., Garcia, Daniel J., Wylie, E. M., Tandon, Lav, Olson, Angela C., & Rim, Jung H. (2021). X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and evolved gas analysis of aged plutonium tetrafluoride (PuF4). Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 329(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07810-z
Wayne, David M., Stritzinger, Jared, Casella, Amanda J., et al., "X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and evolved gas analysis of aged plutonium tetrafluoride (PuF4)," Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 329, no. 2 (2021), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07810-z
@article{osti_1818130,
author = {Wayne, David M. and Stritzinger, Jared and Casella, Amanda J. and Sweet, Lucas E. and Corbey, Jordan F. and Garcia, Daniel J. and Wylie, E. M. and Tandon, Lav and Olson, Angela C. and Rim, Jung H.},
title = {X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and evolved gas analysis of aged plutonium tetrafluoride (PuF4)},
annote = {A 30 year-old PuF4 sample consisting of brown powder (PuF4-b) and pink granules (PuF4-p) was analyzed. X-ray difraction shows the bulk is comprised of three compounds: PuF4, PuO2, and PuF4·1.6H2O. Broadening of PuF4 XRD peaks suggests possible a-damage. After annealing at 650 °C, crystalline PuF4 and PuO2 remain. Thermogravimetric analysis and diferential scanning calorimetry—with simultaneous evolved gas analysis—of the separated PuF4-p and PuF4-b components reveal a distinct sequence of reactions. Dehydration occurs between~90 and 300 °C. Exothermic annealing of the a-damage occurs in two stages: at 350–355 °C and at 555–558 °C. Hydrofuoric acid, fuorine and helium desorb during the frst exotherm. Above 700 °C, PuF4 reacts with PuO2, resulting in oxygen release and mass loss.},
doi = {10.1007/s10967-021-07810-z},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1818130},
journal = {Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry},
number = {2},
volume = {329},
place = {United States},
year = {2021},
month = {08}}