PuAl alloys density measurements using gas pycnometer: First results

Plutonium alloys density is an important data to determine some metallurgical parameters like martensitic (α′) phase fraction (in relation with delta phase stability studies) and to quantify swelling (in relation with self radiation phenomena studies). Density is usually obtained by Archimedes technique. Density measurements on plutonium alloys using gas pycnometer have recently been developed in order to improve accuracy. This paper presents results for delta plutonium alloys (Pu 1.8–5.8 at% Al). The measurements by Archimedes technique and gas pycnometer give the same mean density but the accuracy is divided by 10 for the gas pycnometer method. The first results obtained with gas pycnometer are in agreement with literature.