Pressure-induced transformation in a Pu-2at. % Al alloy
Transformation of the face-centered cubic (fcc) delta phase of plutonium stabilized with 2 at.% aluminum was studied during hydrostatic compression using a Bridgman-type pressure dilatometer. The transformation is displacive/diffusionless and proceeds from delta ..-->.. ..beta..' ..-->.. ..cap alpha..' at room temperture. Both the ..beta..' and ..cap alpha..' phases contain aluminum solutes in supersaturated solution. In the ..beta..' the aluminum solute causes no change in the lattice parameters, whereas in the ..cap alpha..' it causes an expansion similar to that reported for temperature-induced transformation. Annealing experiments demonstrated that when the aluminum solute was permitted to diffuse out of the ..beta..' lattice no change in lattice parameters occurred, but the phase was no longer stable at room temperature, indicating that it reverted to normal ..beta... The morphology of the ..beta..' formed by hydrostatic compression appears lath-like, resembling a strain-induced martensite.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6042517
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-81-2456; CONF-810860-3; ON: DE81030108
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
360102* -- Metals & Alloys-- Structure & Phase Studies
ACTINIDE ALLOYS
ACTINIDES
ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
ANNEALING
COMPRESSION
ELEMENTS
HEAT TREATMENTS
LATTICE PARAMETERS
METALS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM ALLOYS
PLUTONIUM BASE ALLOYS
PLUTONIUM-ALPHA
PLUTONIUM-BETA
PLUTONIUM-DELTA
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
VERY HIGH PRESSURE