Welding iridium heat-source capsules for space missions

Conference · Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5195087

Kanne, Jr, W R

A remote computer-controlled welding station was developed to encapsulate radioactive PuO/sub 2/ in iridium. Weld quench cracking caused an interruption in production of capsules for upcoming space missions. Hot crack sensitivity of the DOP-26 iridium alloy was associated with low melting constituents in the grain boundaries. The extent of cracking was reduced but could not be eliminated by changes to the welding operation. An ultrasonic test was developed to detect underbead cracks exceeding a threshold size. Production was continued using the ultrasonic test to reject capsules with detectable cracks.

• Research Organization: Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-76SR00001
• OSTI ID: 5195087
• Report Number(s): DPSPU-81-30-18; CONF-820449-2; ON: DE82020098; TRN: 82-018552
• Resource Relation: Conference: 63. annual meeting of the American Welding Society, Kansas City, MO, USA, 26 Apr 1982
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
42 ENGINEERING
CAPSULES
GAS TUNGSTEN-ARC WELDING
ULTRASONIC TESTING
PLUTONIUM 238
RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES
ENCAPSULATION
CRACKS
IRIDIUM ALLOYS
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
ACOUSTIC TESTING
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALLOYS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ARC WELDING
CONTAINERS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FABRICATION
HEAT SOURCES
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
JOINING
MATERIALS TESTING
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NUCLEI
PLATINUM METAL ALLOYS
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
POWER SUPPLIES
RADIOISOTOPES
TESTING
WELDING
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
070301* - Isotopic Power Supplies- Design & Fabrication- (-1987)
360101 - Metals & Alloys- Preparation & Fabrication
420500 - Engineering- Materials Testing