Thermal Decomposition of Plutonium Hexafluoride

摘要

The thermal decomposition of PuF6 in the temperature range from 100° to 160°C was studied. At 100° and 120°C, no decomposition was detected. At 140° and 160°C, the rate of decomposition during reaction lasting up to 20hr, and the dependence of the decomposition on the initial PuF6 pressure were determined. The results are explained by assuming that the rate of decomposition is proportional to the 0.4-th power of PuF6 pressure. The activation energy of the reaction was found from calculation to be 14.8kcal/mole.