Generalized rate theory for void and bubble swelling and its application to δ-plutonium

Allen, P. G.; Wolfer, W. G.; Wall, M. A.

doi:10.1116/6.0004015

Generalized rate theory for void and bubble swelling and its application to δ-plutonium

Journal Article · Fri Nov 22 00:00:00 EST 2024 · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/6.0004015· OSTI ID:2478473

^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

A rate theory for void and bubble swelling is derived that allows both vacancies and self-interstitial atoms to be generated by thermal activation at all sinks. In addition, they can also be produced by displacement damage from external and internal radiation. This generalized rate theory (GRT) is applied to swelling of gallium-stabilized δ-plutonium in which α-decay causes the displacement damage. Since the helium atoms produced also become trapped in vacancies, a distinction is made between empty and occupied vacancies. The growth of helium bubbles observed by transmission electron microscopy in weapons-grade and in material enriched with Pu238 is analyzed, using different values for the formation energy of self-interstitial atoms (SIA) and two different sets of relaxation volumes for the vacancy and for the SIA. One set allows preferential capture of SIA at dislocations, while the other set gives equal preference to both vacancy and SIA. It is found that the helium bubble diameters observed are in better agreement with GRT predictions if no preferential capture occurs at dislocations. Therefore, helium bubbles in δ-plutonium will not evolve into voids. Furthermore, the helium density within the bubbles remains sufficiently high to cause thermal emission of SIA. Based on a helium density between two to three helium atoms per vacant site, the sum of formation and migration energies must be around 2.0 eV for SIA in δ-plutonium.

🛈

This content will become publicly available on Sat Nov 22 00:00:00 EST 2025

Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 2478473

Journal Information:: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A, Vol. 42, Issue 6; ISSN 0734-2101

Publisher:: American Vacuum Society / AIPCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (19)

Multiscale modeling of crowdion and vacancy defects in body-centered-cubic transition metals Derlet, P. M.; Nguyen-Manh, D.; Dudarev, S. L. Physical Review B, Vol. 76, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.76.054107	journal	August 2007
Density Functional Theory Models for Radiation Damage Dudarev, S. L. Annual Review of Materials Research, Vol. 43, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-matsci-071312-121626	journal	July 2013
On the coefficient for bulk recombination of vacancies and interstitials Wolfer, W. G.; Si-Ahmed, A. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 99, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(81)90145-8	journal	July 1981
The Dislocation Bias Wolfer, W. G. Journal of Computer-Aided Materials Design, Vol. 14, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10820-007-9051-3	journal	August 2007
Accurate Mean Field Void Bias Factors for Radiation Swelling Calculations Surh, Michael P.; Wolfer, Wilhelm G. Journal of Computer-Aided Materials Design, Vol. 14, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10820-007-9052-2	journal	August 2007
A critical test of the classical rate theory for void swelling Okita, T.; Wolfer, W. G. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 327, Issue 2-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2004.01.026	journal	May 2004
Characterization and modelling of helium bubbles in self-irradiated plutonium alloys Schwartz *, A. J.; Wall, M. A.; Zocco, T. G. Philosophical Magazine, Vol. 85, Issue 4-7 https://doi.org/10.1080/02678370412331320026	journal	February 2005
Theory of Positron Annihilation in Helium-Filled Bubbles in Plutonium Sterne, P. A. AIP Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1594605	conference	January 2003
Nanometric crystal defects in transmission electron microscopy Schäublin, Robin Microscopy Research and Technique, Vol. 69, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.20287	journal	January 2006
Density changes in plutonium observed from accelerated aging using Pu-238 enrichment Chung, B. W.; Thompson, S. R.; Woods, C. H. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 355, Issue 1-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2006.05.015	journal	September 2006
Analysis of density changes in plutonium observed from accelerated aging using Pu-238 enrichment Chung, Brandon W.; Saw, Cheng K.; Thompson, Stephen R. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Vol. 444-445 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2006.10.017	journal	October 2007
Helium equation of state for small cavities: Recent developments Wolfer, W. G.; Glasgow, B. B.; Wehner, M. F. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 122, Issue 1-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(84)90659-7	journal	May 1984
The pressure for dislocation loop punching by a single bubble Wolfer, W. G. Philosophical Magazine A, Vol. 58, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1080/01418618808209927	journal	August 1988
Dislocation loop punching in bubble arrays Wolfer, W. G. Philosophical Magazine A, Vol. 59, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1080/01418618908220332	journal	January 1989
Thermodynamic Properties of Helium 4 from 2 to 1500 K at Pressures to 10 ⁸ Pa Mc Carty, Robert D. Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data, Vol. 2, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3253133	journal	October 1973
Equation of state and melting properties of He 4 from measurements to 20 kbar Mills, R. L.; Liebenberg, D. H.; Bronson, J. C. Physical Review B, Vol. 21, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.21.5137	journal	June 1980
Equation of state and phase diagram of solid He 4 from single-crystal x-ray diffraction over a large P - T domain Loubeyre, P.; LeToullec, R.; Pinceaux, J. P. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 71, Issue 14 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.71.2272	journal	October 1993
High-Pressure Phase Diagram and Equation of State of Solid Helium from Single-Crystal X-Ray Diffraction to 23.3 GPa Mao, H. K.; Hemley, R. J.; Wu, Y. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 60, Issue 25 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.60.2649	journal	June 1988
Elastic Properties and Density of Helium up to 20 GPa Polian, A.; Grimsditch, M. Europhysics Letters (EPL), Vol. 2, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/2/11/006	journal	December 1986

Similar Records

Generalized Rate Theory for Void and Bubble Swelling and its Application to Delta-Plutonium

Technical Report · Tue Oct 04 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · OSTI ID:1416490

Allen, P. G.; Wall, M. A.; Wolfer, W. G.

Generalized Rate Theory for Void and Bubble Swelling and its Application to Plutonium Metal Alloys

Technical Report · Fri Oct 16 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · OSTI ID:1343027

Allen, P. G.; Wolfer, W. G.

DISLOCATION VS. PRODUCTION BIAS REVISITED WITH ACCOUNTED OF RADIATION-INDUCED EMISSION BIAS: VOID SWELLING UNDER ELECTRON AND LIGHT ION IRRADIATION

Book · Sun Apr 17 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · OSTI ID:1040983

Dubinko, Volodymyr; Hu, Shenyang Y; Li, Yulan; +2 more

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
Plutonium
Radiation Damage
Crystallographic defects
Transmission electron microscopy
Radioactive decay
Diffusion

Generalized rate theory for void and bubble swelling and its application to δ-plutonium

Citation Formats

References (19)

Similar Records

Related Subjects