Phase Studies on Arc-Melted Plutonium-Carbon Alloys Near the Monocarbide Composition

Technical Report · Mon Apr 23 04:00:00 EST 1962

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4734828· OSTI ID:4734828

Kruger, O L

The phase boundaries of plutonium monocarbide were studied. Arc-melting of the elements using non-consumable electrodes was selected as the best method of preparing pure, dense alloys in the range of composition 42 to 60 at.% C. Chemical, metallographic, and x-ray examination of the arc-melted alloys showed that single phase PuC and Pu₂C₃ of low impurity content could be made by this method. A primary Pu₂C₃ phase was present in alloys containing more than 46 at.% C as determined by metallographic and x-ray diffraction techniques. Comparison of the theoretical and experimental densities of these Pu- C alloys showed that PuC is a defect structure with some of its C atom lattice sites vacated in alloys with less than 50 at.% C. The phase boundaries of cast PuC were found to be about 42.5 at.% C on the low-C side to between 48.5 and 50 at.% C on its high-C side.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., Ill.; Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• NSA Number: NSA-17-006638
• OSTI ID: 4734828
• Report Number(s): ANL-FGF-343; YAC-6361
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CARBON
DEFECTS
DENSITY
DIFFRACTION
ELECTRIC ARCS
IMPURITIES
LATTICES
MELTING
METALLOGRAPHY
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
PHASE DIAGRAMS
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM CARBIDES
PREPARATION
QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
QUANTITY RATIO
X RADIATION