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Burst Martensitic Transformations in a Pu-Ga Alloy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Kerri J.M. Blobaum ,
J. N. Mitchell ,
C. R. Krenn ,
M. A. Wall ,
T. B. Massalski  and
A. J. Schwartz
Kerri J.M. Blobaum
Affiliation:
[email protected], Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Chemistry and Materials Science, L-356, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States, (925) 422-3289, (925) 424-4737
J. N. Mitchell
Affiliation:
[email protected], Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Materials Division, United States
C. R. Krenn
Affiliation:
[email protected], Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, United States
M. A. Wall
Affiliation:
[email protected], Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Chemistry and Materials Science Directorate, United States
T. B. Massalski
Affiliation:
[email protected], Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Material Science and Engineering, United States
A. J. Schwartz
Affiliation:
[email protected], Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Physics and Advanced Technologies Directorate, United States
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Abstract

Martensitic transformations can occur via two modes: thermoelastic and burst. In thermoelastic martensites, deformation can be accommodated elastically and transformations occur smoothly with changes in temperature or stress. Burst martensitic transformations require both elastic and plastic deformation to accommodate strain; individual martensite particles form at the speed of sound, and the overall accumulation of martensite may increase in discrete, incremental steps. Here, we examine a unique martensitic transformation and reversion in a Pu-2.0 at% Ga alloy and show evidence that they proceed via the burst mode. Upon cooling from ambient conditions, the metastable delta phase partially transforms martensitically to the alpha-prime phase with a volume contraction of 20%. This large volume change suggests a burst transformation. Furthermore, using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), we observed that the alpha-prime to delta reversion proceeds in discrete increments, which appear as sharp peaks in DSC data. The DSC data is compared to similar results obtained using dilatometry and resistometry. This incremental progression is believed to be the result of autocatalytic cascades of many alpha-prime particles reverting nearly-simultaneously to the delta phase. Finite-element modeling suggests that residual stresses in the regions of reverted alpha-prime particles may catalyze (or retard) additional transformation. These stresses could initiate cascades of alpha-prime particles that revert nearly-simultaneously. The cascades are likely quenched by stress and/or temperature changes resulting from the transformation itself. During the forward delta to alpha-prime transformation, burst events are not observed with the above techniques. The transformation, however, is still expected to proceed via the burst martensite mode because of the large volume changes required. Because alpha-prime must be nucleated in the delta matrix before it can grow as an individual burst, the transformation may not occur cooperatively. These individual bursts may be too small to be resolved by the above techniques, and the signal observed corresponds to a cumulative total of all the events.

Keywords

phase transformationactinidecalorimetry
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 893: Symposium JJ – Actinides 2005 – Basic Science, Applications and Technology , 2005 , 0893-JJ05-01
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

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References

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