The Kinetics of Oxidation of Plutonium Metal and a Plutonium-3.4 a/o Aluminum Alloy at Temperatures from 140° to 550°C

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Abstract
The kinetics of oxidation of reactor grade plutonium and ultrapure plutonium were studied in oxygen and air at temperatures from 140° through 550 °C. Paralinear rate laws apply over the entire range with a change of mechanism between 300° and 400°C. In the low‐temperature range (140°– 300°C) the process is postulated to be controlled by a compact layer of . Simultaneous growth of this layer and linear oxidation to results in paralinear kinetics whose rate constants are Above 400 °C the oxide produced is more protective and is postulated to include a layer of consistent with phase diagram studies. Paralinear kinetics are followed with simultaneous rate constants The presence of moisture has no effect above 215 °C, but causes a marked increase in the oxidation at lower temperatures. As little as 180 ppm moisture caused the linear rate at 190 °C to accelerate an order of magnitude.

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