PHENOMENOLOGICAL MODEL OF THE METASTABILITY OF THE 6 PHASE OF PLUTONIUM WITH GALLIUM AND ALUMINUM

摘要

Comparing the equilibrium and metastable phase diagrams of Pu-Ga (and the analogous diagrams of Pu-Al) shows that for a definite concentration of the alloyed component in the region of metastable existence of the 5 phase the 8 solid solution can be thermodynamically inclined toward spinodal decomposition. Elastic stresses which arise because of the large size difference between the atoms of the components prevent the appearance and development of concentration nonuniformities. Nonequilibrium defects result in relaxation of microstresses and can facilitate segregation.