Elastic Moduli Of Pu And Ga Stabilized Delta-Pu: Experimental Data And Phenomenological Behavior At High Temperature

To contribute to the equation of state and constitutive relations of pure plutonium (T-m= 913 K) and Ga stabilized delta-plutonium (Pu-2.3 at. %Ga; Tm= 928 K), we have determined the elastic moduli (Young modulus E; adiabatic bulk modulus B, and shear modulus G) versus temperature T in the temperature range T is an element of [300; 750] K or T/T-m is an element of [0.3; 0.85]. Using an ultrasonic method as a robust concept despite the radiation damage to transducers, the elastic-waves velocities are described as decreasing for each crystallographic phase. Experimental results are compared to literature. (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3486479]