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Isothermal δ / α′ Transformation and TTT Diagram in a Plutonium Gallium Alloy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Benoit Jean-Paul Oudot
Affiliation:
[email protected], Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Chemistry and Materials Science Directorate, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States, 925-422-5495
Kerri Blobaum
Affiliation:
[email protected], Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Chemistry and Materials Science Directorate, United States
Mark Wall
Affiliation:
[email protected], Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Chemistry and Materials Science Directorate, United States
Adam Schwartz
Affiliation:
[email protected], Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Physics and Advanced Technologies Directorate, United States
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Abstract

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is used as an alternative approach to determining the time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagram for the martensitic delta to alpha-prime transformation in a Pu-2.0 at% Ga alloy. Previous work sugests that the TTT diagram for a similar alloy exhibits an unusual double-C curve for isothermal holds of less than 100 minutes. Here, we extend this diagram to 18 hours, and confirm the double-C curve behavior. When the sample is cooled prior to the isothermal holds, the delta to alpha-prime transformation is observed as several overlapping exothermic peaks. These peaks are very reproducible, and they are believed to be the result of different kinds of delta to alpha-prime martensitic transformation. This may be due to the presence of different nucleation sites and/or different morphologies.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

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References

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