THE PLUTONIUM-ZIRCONIUM PHASE DIAGRAM

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1960 · J. Less-Common Metals

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-5088(60)90042-4· OSTI ID:4115331

Marples, J A.C.

The entire plutonium - zirconium phase diagram was investigated from room temperature to 1300 gas-cooled C. The main features of the diagram are: continuous solubility between -plutonium and to 1000 deg F. -zirconium; a wide -plutonium phase field extending across the diagram to 70 at.% zirconium at 600 gas-cooled C: a maximum solubility of plutonium in alpha -zirconium of 13 at.% at 618 gas-cooled C; a depression of the alpha / to 1000 deg F. transformation in zirconium to a eutectoid at 618 gas-cooled C; a compound at about 75 at.% zirconium with an hexagonal P 6/mmm structure and with a = 5.055 A. c = 3.123 A, which on heating to 380 gas-cooled C decomposes peritectoidally to alpha -zirconium and -plutonium; a compound of unknown crystal structure (approx. Pu/sub 6/Zr) with a wide composition range from about 12 at.% to about 25 at.% zirconium decomposing congruently to -plutonium at 340 gas-cooled C; and solubilities in alpha -, to 1000 deg F. -, and - plutonium of approximately 1.5, 7, and 3 at.% zirconium. respectively. The - plutonium structure may readily be retained by quenching samples with compositions between 5 and 70 at.% zirconium. but it is not an equilibrium phase below 267 gas-cooled C. -Plutonium or to 1000 deg F. -zirconium cannot be retained by quenching at any composition. Possible valencies of the component metals and Brillouin zones for the alpha -zirconium and K phases are proposed; these enable the observed composition ranges of the two phases to be explained in terms of zone theory. (auth)

• Research Organization: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Harwell, Berks, Eng.
• NSA Number: NSA-15-004318
• OSTI ID: 4115331
• Journal Information: J. Less-Common Metals, Journal Name: J. Less-Common Metals Vol. Vol: 2
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BRILLOUIN ZONE
CRYSTALS
DECOMPOSITION
EUTECTICS
HEAT TREATMENTS
HEATING
HIGH TEMPERATURE
LATTICES
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
PERITECTOIDS
PHASE DIAGRAMS
PLUTONIUM ALLOYS
PRESSURE
SOLUBILITY
TEMPERATURE
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS