Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Plutonium Aging: From Mystery to Enigma

  • Chapter
Ageing Studies and Lifetime Extension of Materials

Abstract

The unusual behavior of plutonium in the solid state is a result of plutonium sitting at a transition in the actinide series between 5f electrons participating in bonding vs. being localized or inert in the core of the atom. The metallurgical consequences of this peculiar electronic structure are examined. We then review the consequences of aging on the properties of plutonium and some of its alloys. The principal mechanisms of aging are through surface corrosion (especially with oxygen and hydrogen) and through self-irradiation damage.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Adler, P. H., 1991, Met. Trans. A 22A: 2237–2246.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adler, P. H., Olson, G. B., and Margolies, D. S., 1986, Acta Metall 34: 2053–2064.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adler, P. H., Olson, G. B., Stevens, M. F. and Gallegos, G. F., 1992,Acta Metall 40:1073.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, P. W., 1958, Phys. Rev. 109: 1492.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arko, A. J., Joyce, J. J., and Morales, L. A., 1999, J. Alloys Comp. 286: 14–19.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brailsford, A. D., and Bullough, R., 1978, J. Nucl. Mater. 69-70:434–450.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cawthome, C., and Fulton, E. J., 1967, Nature 216: 515.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chebotarev, N. T., and Utkina, O. N., 1975. In Proc. of 5th Int. Conf. on Plutonium and Other Actinides, (H. Blank and R. Lindner, eds.), North Holland Publishing Co., New York, pp. 559–566.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chebotarev, N. T., Smotriskaya, E. S., Andrianov, M. A., and Kostyuk, O. E., 1975. In Proc. of 5th Int. Conf on Plutonium and Other Actinides, (H. Blank and R. Lindner, eds.), North Holland Publishing Co., New York, pp. 37–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conradson, S. D., 1998, Appl. Spectroscopy 52: 252A–279A.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, B. R., Vogt, O., Sheng, Q-G., and Lin, Y-L., 1999, Phil. Mag. B 79: 683–702.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deloffre, P., Truffier, J. L., and Falanga, A., 1998, J. Alloys Comp. 271-273: 370–373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz de la Rubia, T., Caturla, M. J., and Fluss, M. J., Dimensional stability and microstructural evolution in irradiated systems with complex kinetics, 1999, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, UCRL-ID-136235.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrhart, P., Jung, P., Schultz, H., and Ullmaier, H., 1991. In Atomare Fehlstellen inMetallen, (H. Ullmaier, ed.), Springer Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellinger, F. H., Land, C. C., and Miner, W.N., 1962, J. Nucl. Mater. 1:115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellinger, F. H., Land, C. C., and Struebing, V. O., 1964, J. Nucl. Mater. 12:226–236.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ellinger, F. H., Miner, W. N., O’Boyle, D. R., and Schonfeld, F. W., 1968, Constitution of Plutonium Alloys, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Report, LA-3870, Dec. 1968.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, R. O., and Olson, C. E., 1964, J. Appl. Phys. 35: 1925–1931.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, R. O., and Olson, C. E., 1966. In Studies in Radiation Effects, Vol. 1, (Dienes, G. J., ed.), Gordon & Breach, New York, pp. 1–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eriksson, O., Söderlind, P., Wills, J. M., and Boring, A. M., 1993, Physica B 190:12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ewing, R.C., 2000, this volume, Ageing Studies of Nuclear Waste Forms: The Evaluation of Long-Term Behaviour.

    Google Scholar 

  • Filin, V. M., Bulkin, V. I., Timofeeva, L. F., and Polyakova, M. Yu., 1989, Soviet Radiochemistry 30: 683–721.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedel, J., 1969. In The Physics of Metals, (J. M. Ziman, ed.), Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garner, F. A., and Wolfer, W. G., 1984, J. Nucl. Mater. 122,123: 201–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, C. S., Mendelssohn, K., Lee, J. A., and Mortimer, M. J., 1970. In Proc. of 4th Int. Conf. on Plutonium and other Actinides 1970, (W. N. Miner, ed.), The Metallurgical Society of AIME, pp. 635–648.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gschneidner, K. A., Elliott, R. O., and Struebing, V. O., 1960. In Plutonium 1960, The Proc. of the 2nd Int. Conf on Plutonium Metallurgy, (E. Grison, W. B. H. Lord, and R. D. Fowler, eds.), Cleaver-Hume Press Ltd., London, 1961, pp. 134–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammel, E. F., 1998, Plutonium Metallurgy at Los Alamos, 1943-1945: Recollections of Edward F. Hammel, 1999, Los Alamos Historical Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, W. A., 1983, Phys. Rev.B 28: 550–559.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, W. A., and Straub, G. K., 1999, Electronic Structure of Transition and f-Shell Metals, Los Alamos National Laboratory Report LA-UR-99-1266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haschke, J. M. and Martz, J. C, 1998a, Plutonium Storage. In Encyclopedia of Environmental Analysis and Remediation, John Wiley and Sons, pp.3740–3755.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haschke, J. M., 1991, Actinide Hydrides. In Topics in Element Chemistry: Synthesis of Lanthanide and Actinide Compounds, Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 1–53.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Haschke, J. M., 1999, unpublished results.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haschke, J. M., Allen, T. H., and Martz, J. C, 1998, J. Alloys Comp., 271: 211–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haschke, J. M., Allen, T. H., and Morales, L. A., 1999, accepted for publication, Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haschke, J. M., Allen, T. H., and Stakebake, J. L., 1996, J. Alloys Comp. 243: 23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haschke, J. M., and Martz, J. C, 1998b, J. Alloys Comp., 266: 81–89.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haschke, J. M., Morales, L. A., and Allen, T. H., 1999, Los Alamos Science 26, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haschke, J. M., Allen, T. H., Morales, L. A., Clark, D. L., 1999, Los Alamos National Laboratory Report (LA-UR-99- 4370)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hecker, S. S., Zukas, E. G, Morgan, J. R, and Pereyra, R. A., 1981. In Proc. Int. Conf. Solid-Solid Phase Tranf, (H. I. Aaronson, ed.), Am. Inst. Min. Engrs., New York, 1982, p. 1339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, H. H., and Kmetko, E. A., 1976, J. Phys. F 6: 1025.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacquemin, J., and Lallement R., 1970. In Proc. of 4th Int. Conf on Plutonium and other Actinides 1970, (W. N. Miner, ed.), The Metallurgical Society of AIME, pp. 616–622.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johansson, B., 1974, Phil. Mag. 30: 469.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johansson, B., Skriver, H. L., and Anderson, O. K., 1981. In Physics of Solids Under Pressure, (J. S. Schilling and R. N. Shelton, eds.), North Holland, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, M. D., Boettger, J. C, Albers, R. C, and Singh, D. J., 1999, Accepted to Phys. Rev. B (Los Alamos National Laboratory, LA-UR-99-2778).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kammer, J. C., and Cost, J. R., 1991. Kinetics of helium outgassing from f.c.c.-stabilized plutonium, in TMS Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 20–24, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, E., Lee, J. A., Mendelssohn, K., and Wigley, D. A., 1965, Proc. Roy. Soc. 284A, 325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klemens, P. G., and Cort, B., 1997, J. Alloys Comp. 252: 157–161.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kmetko, E., 1965. In Proc. of 3rd Int. Conf. on Plutonium 1965, (A. I. Kay and M. B. Waldron, eds.), Chapman and Hall for Institute of Metals, London, 1967, pp.222–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kmetko, E., and Waber, J., 1965, In Proc. of 3rd Int. Conf on Plutonium 1965, (A. I. Kay and M. B. Waldron, eds.), Chapman and Hall for Institute of Metals, London, 1967, pp.244–273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurilo, V. S., Filin, V. M., Timofeeva, L. F., Polyakov, M. Yu., Bulkin, V. I., 1989, Investigation into the kinetics of radiogenic helium release from delta-phase Pu-Ga alloys. In Actinides-89 Int. Conf, Tashkent, USSR, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lallement, R., and Solente, P., 1965. In Proc. of 3rd Int. Conf. on Plutonium 1965, (A. I. Kay and M. B. Waldron, eds.), Chapman and Hall for Institute of Metals, London, 1967,147–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawson, A. C., Goldstone, J. A., Cort, B., Martinez, R. J., Vigil, F. A., Zocco, T. G., Richardson, J. W., and Mueller, M. H., 1996, Acta Cryst. B52: 32–37.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lawson, A. C., Cort, B., Roberts, J. A., Bennett, B. I., Brun, T. O., Von Dreele, R B., and Richardson, J. W.,1999. In Electron Correlation and Materials Properties, (A. Gonis and N. Kioussis, eds.), Plenum Publishing Corporation, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J. A., Mendelssohn, K., and Wigley, D. A., 1962, Phys. Letters 1: 325.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lindemann,F. A., 1910,Phys. Z. 11: 609.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liptai, R. G., and Friddle, R J., 1967, J. Nucl. Mater. 21: 114.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marples, J. A. C, and Hall, R. O., 1972, J. Nucl. Mater. 39: 212–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marples, J. A. C., Hough, A., Mortimer, M. J., Smith, A., Lee, J. A., 1970. In Proc. of 4th Int. Conf. on Plutonium and other Actinides 1970, (W. N. Miner, ed.), The Metallurgical Society of AIME, New York, pp.623–634.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martz, J. C. and Haschke, J. M., 1998,J. Alloys Comp. 266:90–103.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martz, J. C., Haschke, J. M., and Stakebake, J. L, 1994, J. Nucl. Mat. 210:130.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, J. R, 1970. In Proc. of 4th Int. Conf. on Plutonium and other Actinides 1970, (W. N. Miner, ed.), The Metallurgical Society of AIME, New York, pp.669–678.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mott, N. F., 1949, Proc. Phys. Soc. 62A: 416.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nadykto, B. A., and Nadykto, O. B., 2000, this volume, Model of Shock-Wave Material Failure at Alpha Decay.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, R. D., 1980, Solid State Reactions. In Plutonium Handbook, (O. J. Wick, ed.), American Nuclear Society, 1980, pp.101–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Northover, J.P. and Dye, A., 2000, this volume, Observations of Ageing in Alloys over Archaeological Time.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okamoto, P. R., and Wiedersich, H., 1974. J. Nucl. Mater. 53: 36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olson, C. E., and Elliott, R. O., 1962, J. Phys. Chem. Solids 23: 1225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orme, J. T., Faiers, M. E., and Ward, B. J., 1975. In Proc. of 5th Int. Conf. on Plutonium and Other Actinides, (H Blank and R. Lindner, eds.) North Holland Publishing Co., New York, p.761.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raetsky, V. M., 1974, J. Nucl. Mater. 51: 246–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rehn, L. E. and Okamoto, P. R, 1983. In Phase Transformations during Irradiation, (F. V. Nolfi, ed.), Applied Science Publishers, London and New York, 1983, pp.247–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, A. C. and Cottrell, A. H., 1958, Phil. Mag. 1: 711.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seleznev, A. G., Kosulin, N. S., and Shushakov, V. D, 1995, Radiochemistry 37:488–492.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. L., and Kmetko, E. A., 1983, J. Less Common Met. 90: 83.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smirnov, E. A. and Shmakov, A. A., 1999, Defects and Diffusion Forum 165-166: 63–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Söderlind, P., Eriksson, O., Johansson, B., Wills, J. M., and Boring, A. M., 1995, Nature 374: 524.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Söderlind, P., Wills, J. M., Johansson, B., and Eriksson, O., 1997, Phys. Rev. B 55: 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spearing, D. R, Veirs, D. K., Prenger, F. C., 1999, Effect of the Plutonoium α-ß phase transition Expansion on Storage Can Integrity, Los Alamos National Laboratory Report LA-UR-99-147, Jan. 14,1997.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stakebake, J. L., Larson, D. T., and Haschke, J. M. 1993, J. Alloys Comp. 202: 251–263.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Timofeeva, L. T., 2000, Low temperature equilibrium aging under self-irradiation in binary alloys of Pu with elements of II-B group. This volume.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, D. C, 1998,Phys. Rev. B 58: 15433–15439.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wehner, W. M., and Wolfer, W. G., 1985, Phil. Mag. A52: 189–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wigley, A. D., 1965, Proc. Roy. Soc. 284A, 344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wigley, D. A., 1964, Ph.D. Thesis, Oxford University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wills, J. M., and Eriksson, O., 1992, Phys. Rev. B 45: 13879.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wills, J. M., and Eriksson, O., 1999, Los Alamos Science,26, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfer, W. G., 1983, J. Nucl. Mater. 114: 292–304.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfer, W. G., 1984,J. Nucl. Mater. 122,123: 367–378.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfer, W. G., 1998, Radiation Damage in Pu, CMS Workshop, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Aug. 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zachariasen, W. H., and Ellinger, F. H., 1963, Acta Cryst. 16: 780.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zachariasen W. H., 1960, The Metal Plutonim, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp. 99–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zocco, T. G., 1999. Private communications. Los Alamos National Laboratory.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zocco, T. G., and Rohr, D. L., 1988,Mater. Res. Soc. Proc. 115:259–264.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zocco, T. G., Stevens, M. F., Adler, P. H, Sheldon, R. I., and Olsen, G. B., 1990, Acta Metall. Mater. 38: 2275–2282.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zukas, E. G, Hecker, S. S., Morgan, J. R, and Pereyra, R. A., 1981. In Proc. Int. Conf Solid-Solid Phase Tranf., (H. I. Aaronson, ed), Am. Inst. Min. Engrs., New York, 1982, p. 1333.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, N.M., 87545, USA

    Siegfried S. Hecker & Joseph C. Martz

Authors
  1. Siegfried S. Hecker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joseph C. Martz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. AWE, Aldermaston, UK

    Leslie G. Mallinson

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hecker, S.S., Martz, J.C. (2001). Plutonium Aging: From Mystery to Enigma. In: Mallinson, L.G. (eds) Ageing Studies and Lifetime Extension of Materials. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1215-8_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1215-8_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5444-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-1215-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation