Formation of Pu Amorphous Alloys or Metastable Structures in Pu-Fe, Pu-Ta, and Pu-Si Alloys

摘要

Sputter deposition technique was used to study the possible formation of amorphous structures in Pu-Fe, Pu-Ta, and Pu-Si systems. A triode sputtering system was used to prepare sputtered coatings: 13 to 59 at. % (a/o) Fe, 10 to 50 a/o Si, and 15 to 65 a/o Ta. Structure of the coatings was determined by x-ray diffraction techniques. The temperature stability of the obtained structures was determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) measurements. The Pu-Fe and Pu-Si binary systems showed strong evidence for the formation of amorphous phases in the sputtered coatings. X-ray analyses indicated the presence of Pu sub 6 Fe in the 13 to 20 a/o Fe range of Pu-Fe alloys and no apparent crystalline phases over the entire 10 to 50 a/o Si range of Pu-Si alloys. In the Pu-Ta system, the DSC data obtained for compositions below 50 a/o Ta did not show typical crystallization exotherms. At compositions above 50 a/o Ta, a metastable bcc alpha Ta structure was observed with an expanded lattice parameter. The calculated volume expansion (2.9%) corresponds to 29 a/o of Pu in solid solution if the lattice parameter is assumed to follow Vegards Law. After storage in a nitrogen glovebox atmosphere for over two years, the Pu-Si and Pu-Ta coatings have maintained a metallic luster and have shown no visible evidence of surface oxidation. (ERA citation 11:013657)