Liquid-metal embrittlement of refractory metals by molten plutonium
Embrittlement by molten plutonium of the refractory metals and alloys W-25 wt % Re, tantalum, molybdenum, and Ta-10 wt % W was studied. At 900/sup 0/C and a strain rate of 10/sup -4/ s/sup -1/, the materials tested may be ranked in order of decreasing susceptibility to liquid-plutonium embrittlement as follows: molybdenum, W-25 wt % Re, Ta-10 wt % W, and tantalum. These materials exhibited a wide range in susceptibility. Embrittlement was found to exhibit a high degree of temperature and strain-rate dependence, and we present arguments that strongly support a stress-assisted, intergranular, liquid-metal corrosion mechanism. We also believe microstructure plays a key role in the extent of embrittlement. In the case of W-25 wt % Re, we have determined that a dealloying corrosion takes place in which rhenium is selectively withdrawn from the alloy.
- Research Organization:
- California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore National Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5186566
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-83986; CONF-800833-1; TRN: 80-013671
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 13. annual technical meeting of the International Metallographic Society, Brighton, UK, 18 Aug 1980
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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