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Thermodynamic equilibrium in the low-solute regions of Pu-group MIA metal binary systems

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Abstract

The low-temperature fcc(δ) → monoclinic(α) transformation in Pu-Al and Pu-Ga alloys has been shown to proceedvia a diffusionless, martensitic mechanism. Typically, δ/δ+ α “equilibrium” phase boundaries reported in the literature are based on measurements of the Ms or As (forward and reverse) martensite transformation temperatures, which are functions of grain size, strengthening mechanisms, or nucleating defect structures and, hence, do not represent a state of thermodynamic equilibrium.Via a thermodynamic model, in which a regular solution parameter was fit to experimental equilibrium temperatures (T0) and pressures (P0) and available solution calorimetry data on two PuAl alloys to define the Gibbs free energy for the δ and α phases, equilibrium phase boundaries were determined using free-energy minimization techniques over the compositional and temperature ranges 0 ≤ X≤ 0.30 and 300 K≤T ≤ 700 K, respectively, for both Pu-Al and Pu-Ga systems. A eutectoid decomposition of δ→ α + Pu3M is predicted at 335 ± 50 K for the Pu-Al system, while for Pu-Ga the eutectoid occurs at 354 ± 50 K. These findings are consistent with other group III A Pu-M systems (In and TI) which also exhibit the invariant reaction.

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  1. The METCAL Corporation, Menlo Park, 94025, CA

    P. H. Adler (Senior Materials Scientist)

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Adler, P.H. Thermodynamic equilibrium in the low-solute regions of Pu-group MIA metal binary systems. Metall Trans A 22, 2237–2246 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02664989

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