PHASE RELATIONS IN PLUTONIUM-LEAD SYSTEM

An extensive investigation of the plutonium-lead phase diagram has been conducted using differential thermal analysis, metallography, X-ray diffraction, and electron microprobe analysis. The alloys were found to be generally much higher melting than previously reported in the literature. Six intermetallic phases were observed in the work reported. These have been identified as Pu3Pb, Pu5Pb3, Pu5Pb4, Pu4Pb5, PuPb2, and PuPb3, although Pu4Pb5 appears to be of a new structure type and the designation is therefore tentative. A comparison with the literature concerning compounds of group 4A elements with plutonium is made. Incidental metallographic experiments with uranium-lead and plutonium-tin alloys are described. The results of this work are found to vary from those in the literature concerning plutoniumlead and plutonium-tin alloys. © 1969.