Book Description
The metastability of alpha plutonium above the [alpha] [r-equilibrium] [beta] equilibrim transformation temperature (112 C) was studied by metallographic techniques. The purpose of this study was to extend the previous work on the [alpha] [yields] [beta] transformation which was accomplished using fluid displacement techniques[sup 1] and to obtain a basis for determining the length of time the alpha phase is stable at high temperatures. Approximate isothermal reaction curves were determined experimentally and an [alpha] [yields] [beta] time- temperature-transformation (T-T-T) curve was derived.