Properties of plutonium - DOE-HDBK-1145-2001

Radiological Safety Training for Plutonium Facilities

DOEHDBK11452001

Student's Guide

II. Properties of plutonium

A. Physical and chemical

Reactor-produced plutonium goes through several

different chemical processes before it becomes a solid

metal. Irradiated nuclear fuel elements are dissolved

in strong acid and the plutonium is chemically

extracted from the solution. Plutonium solutions do

not readily create airborne contamination problems,

but contamination containment is difficult because of

the corrosive nature of the solutions.

The solution is put through another processing

stage that converts it from a liquid to a powder.

Airborne contamination problems are more likely to

occur in this powered form. Because it is in a more

dispersible form, this is done inside gloveboxes.

The powder is then placed in a crucible mold and

heated without melting until it becomes a solid metal.

The metal has a bright, silver-like appearance at first,

but it oxidizes very quickly to a dull gray. It is about as

hard and brittle as gray cast iron unless it is alloyed

with other metals to make it soft and ductile. Although

it is a metal, it is not a good conductor of heat or

electricity like most other metals.

There are two difficult conditions that need to be

dealt with in the processing:

It takes tons of irradiated uranium in order to

extract grams of plutonium.

Intense radiation is present in the

production, processing, storage, and waste

handling. To protect workers, these

processes are performed within shielded

cubicles or some other shielded

containment.