Abstract
The moisture accelerated oxidation can endanger the safety storage of plutonium, but experiments haven’t provided a complete mechanism explanation, let alone a prediction model. Based on first principles calculations, this work reveals the acceleration mechanism of water on Pu-Ga alloy oxidation in moist air and interprets available experimental findings. Specifically, the OH adsorption after H2O dissociation can promote the O-vacancy formation in PuO2 by the polaron interaction mechanism, and then facilitate the vacancy diffusion of the actual corrosion medium O after O2 dissociation. Therefore, the diffusion kinetics of O in Pu-oxide is decisive, which is correlated to the relative humidity (RH) and temperature (T). Based on the micro mechanisms and the available experiments, we propose a method to modify the oxidation kinetic model by taking into account the coupling effects of RH and T, this model provides a new way to evaluate and predicts the acceleration ratio of RH and T on the oxidation kinetics of Pu-Ga alloy. This work comprehensively reveals the acceleration mechanism of moisture and then proposes the oxidation kinetic model, which is significant to the storage and protective of nuclear materials.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
