DETERMINATION OF SOME PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF PLUTONIUM METAL

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1960 · Mem. sci. rev. met.

OSTI ID:4154930

Ball, J G; Lee, J A; Mardon, P G; Robertson, J A.L.

The phase transitions in plutonium metal were examined by means of thermal analysis, electrical resistance, and dilatometry. The results show that probably six allotropic modifications exist between room temperature and the melting point, 640 deg C. Very large hysteresis effects are observed for the lower temperature transitions. X-ray examination has shown that only the delta - and epsilon -plutonium patterns are simple, these phases being respectively facecentered cubic and body-centered cubic. The specific heat of alpha - plutonium has been determined by a simple calorimetric method. The value proves to be unuaually high and is compared with the results for other actinide elements. An estimate has been made of the thermal conductivity of alpha -plutonium by Kannaluick's method; the value is extremely low for a metallic element. (auth)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-14-016014
• OSTI ID: 4154930
• Journal Information: Mem. sci. rev. met., Journal Name: Mem. sci. rev. met. Vol. Vol: 57
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: French

Related Subjects

ACTINIDES
ALLOTROPY
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELEMENTS
EXPANSION
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYSTERESIS
LATTICES
MELTING POINTS
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
PHASE DIAGRAMS
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM-ALPHA
PLUTONIUM-DELTA
PLUTONIUM-EPSILON
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
SPECIFIC HEAT
THERMAL ANALYSIS
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMODYNAMICS
X RADIATION