Keywords
inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, analytical chemistry, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, physical radiation effects, metallography, radioactive decay, chemical elements, plutonium, aging theory
Abstract
This study demonstrates the 100 g scale manufacture of a plutonium alloy that ages at an accelerated rate. The resulting alloy ages six times faster than typical weapons-grade plutonium due to the addition of 238Pu. As a major innovation, the process involved using a partial direct oxide reduction technique. This method was achieved by developing a new, complex geometry stirrer using additive manufacturing to reduce the 238Pu oxide and efficiently incorporate it into weapons-grade plutonium metal. The material was then purified by molten salt extraction and electrorefining before being alloyed with gallium. The alloy was then cold-rolled and annealed in a homogenization heat treatment. The resulting disk was characterized by metallography and differential scanning calorimetry, and the impurity content was determined using analytical chemistry techniques. The results show that a homogeneous delta phase plutonium alloy was achieved with expected microstructure and minimal impurities. This study was also successful in changing the plutonium isotopic composition by incorporating additional 238Pu to accelerate the effects of radiation damage. This enables researchers to study long-term aging phenomena in a reduced time frame, thus avoiding the need for large-scale material production and circumventing the limitations of using naturally aged, archived plutonium.
Original Publication Citation
K. S. Holliday, A. M. Parkes, D. S. Rappleye, D. J. Roberts, K. J. Kondrat, S. A. Simpson, A. J. Swift, U. Mehta, R. M. Kissinger, D. L. Rosas, L. S. Ripplinger, E. R. Tardiff, S. L. Harris, S. Perkins, C. Hawkins, N. J. Gibbs, R. J. P. Driscoll, A. T. Sidambe, R. A. Cole, T. T. Roehling, J. R. Jeffries; Small-scale production of bespoke accelerated aging plutonium alloy. J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 1 July 2025; 43 (3): 033209. https://doi.org/10.1116/6.0004523
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Holliday, K. S.; Parkes, A. M.; Rappleye, Devin; Roberts, D. J.; Kondrat, K. J.; Simpson, S. A.; Swift, A. J.; Mehta, U.; Kissinger, R. M.; Rosas, D. L.; Ripplinger, L. S.; Tardiff, E. R.; Harris, S. L.; Perkins, S.; Hawkins, C.; Gibbs, N. J.; Driscoll, R. J. P.; Sidambe, A. T.; Cole, R. A.; Roehling, T. T.; and Jeffries, J R., "Small-scale production of bespoke accelerated aging plutonium alloy" (2025). Faculty Publications. 8228.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/8228
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2025-04-25
Publisher
Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A
Language
English
College
Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering
Department
Chemical Engineering
Copyright Status
Published under an exclusive license by the AVS.
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