PLUTONIUM ALLOYS CONTAINING CONTROLLED AMOUNTS OF PLUTONIUM ALLOTROPES OBTAINED BY APPLICATION OF HIGH PRESSURES

Patent · Tue Jul 10 00:00:00 EDT 1962

OSTI ID:4791240

Elliott, R O; Gschneidner, Jr, K A

A method of making stabilized plutonium alloys which are free of voids and cracks and have a controlled amount of plutonium allotropes is described. The steps include adding at least 4.5 at.% of hafnium, indium, or erbium to the melted plutonium metal, homogenizing the resulting alloy at a temperature of 450 deg C, cooling to room temperature, and subjecting the alloy to a pressure which produces a rapid increase in density with a negligible increase in pressure. The pressure required to cause this rapid change in density or transformation ranges from about 800 to 2400 atmospheres, and is dependent on the alloying element. (AEC)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-16-027580
• Assignee: U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
• Patent Number(s): US 3043727
• OSTI ID: 4791240
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-62
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
ALLOTROPY
COOLING
ERBIUM COMPOUNDS
HAFNIUM ALLOYS
INDIUM ALLOYS
LIQUID METALS
PLUTONIUM ALLOYS
PRESSURE
STABILITY