Table 4-8. Airborne Release of Pu From Pu-Na M ixtures During Self-Sustained Oxidation

DOE-HDBK-3010-94

4.0 Solids; Metals

greater than the stated size), for the airborne materials measured by cascade impactor ranged

from 4 to 10 m AED.

Chatfield (1969) measured the Pu airborne during the combustion (oxidation after ignition) or

explosive release of unalloyed Pu foil encased in sodium. The oxidation experiments were

performed in a horizontal glass tube externally heated by a resistance furnace. Air or gas, at

a velocity of 0.8 m/s, was drawn through the tube over the Pu foil encased in a rectangular

block of Na held in a nickel or tantalum boat to sampling equipment (Casella Mk 3 cascade

impactor or membrane filter). The Pu-Na was heated in an argon flow to a temperature of

300 oC and the flow switched to air. The results from these experiments are shown in Table

A.31 (Tables 1 & 2 from the source document) in Appendix A. The ARF are presented as

Ci of activity released but no specific activity for the source material was given. Under the

assumption that the Pu is "weapons grade" material similar to that specified in Eidson and

Kanapilly (February 1983) and Raabe et al. (November 1978) with a specific activity of

7.4E-2 Ci/g, the release fractions shown in Table 4-8 were estimated.

Table 4-8. Airborne Release of Pu From Pu-Na M ixtures

During Self-Sustained Oxidation

(Table 1 - Chatfield 1969)

RF1

W eight Pu

Activity in Source

Fraction Activity

M ass Fraction

(gram s)

( Ci)

Airborne ( Ci)

Pu Airborne

0.0549

4.06E+3

1.7E-3

4.2E-7

0.88

0.0570

4.22E+3

1.5E-3

3.6E-7

0.80

0.0644

4.77E+3

1.8E-3

3.8E-7

0.72

0.0830

6.14E+3

1.5E-2

2.4E-6

0.40

0.1021

7.56E+3

5.0E-2

6.6E-6

0.0899

6.65E+3

2.8E+0

4.2E-4

0.98

0.0946

7.00E+3

8.0E-2

1.1E-5

0.1069

7.91E+3

5.6E-2

7.1E-6

0.0732

5.42E+3

4.0E-3

7.4E-7

0.0710

5.25E+3

5.0E-2

9.5E-5

0.0981

7.26E+3

4.7E+1

6.5E-3

0.28

0.09002

6.66E+3

1.8E-1

2.7E-5

0.11

0.07633

5.65E+3

5.5E-2

9.7E-6

0.27

0.06513

4.82E+3

2.1E-1

4.4E-5

0.41

0.09154

6.79E+3

3.5E-2

5.3E-6

0.12

Pu size data presented as particles 11 m and less AED (unit density spheres). Conservative assumption to

include all material in respirable fraction.

Pu as dioxide powder dispersed on sodium wire.

No sodium used in this experiment.

No ignition, Pu heated in argon only.

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