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Languages : en
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Book Description
The oxidation of plutonium-1 wt % gallium in 500 torr of a mixture of 94.5% nitrogen/5.5% oxygen has been investigated over the temperature range of 150 to 500/sup 0/C. This atmosphere typifies the atmospheres in the Rocky Flats inert glovebox lines. Rates of oxidation were nearly identical to the rates measured in an air atmosphere. The mechanism for the oxidation were nearly identical to the rates measured in an air atmosphere. The mechanism for the oxidation process involved three stages. Stage 1 was the buildup of a dense oxide film with a rate of growth determined by the diffusion of oxygen through the plutonium dioxide layer. Stage 2 involved a linear rate process equivalent to the rate of diffusion through an oxide film with a constant thickness and also equivalent to the rate of crack and pore formation in the oxide. Stage 3 was a linear interface controlled reaction resulting from the cracking and spalling of the oxide layer.