Skip to content
1887
Volume 23, Issue 3
  • ISSN: 0032-1400

Abstract

The conversion of heat energy, resulting from the decay of plutonium-238 dioxide, to electrical energy for spacecraft requires alloys capable of containing the isotopic fuel at temperatures up to about 2000°C and of withstanding impact velocities of 90 metres per second. The development and properties of a platinum-30 per cent rhodium-8 per cent tungsten and an iridium-0.3 per cent tungsten alloy doped with 40 ppm each of thorium and aluminium, which meet the stringent service requirements, are reviewed.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1595/003214079X233100108
1979-01-01
2024-03-28
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/pmr/23/3/pmr0023-0100.html?itemId=/content/journals/10.1595/003214079X233100108&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. “Thermoelectric Generators Provide Power During Space Missions”, Platinum Metals Rev., 1979, 23, (1), 16 [Google Scholar]
  2. Liu C. T., Inouye H., and Carpenter R. W. Metall. Trans., 1973, 4, (8), 1839 [Google Scholar]
  3. Jones G. J., Selle J. E., and Teaney P. E. “Plutonium-238 Dioxide/T-111 Compatibility Studies”, Mound Laboratory Report MLM-2209, September 1975
  4. Nadler M. R., and Kempter C. P. J. Phys. Chem., 1960, 64, (10), 1468 [Google Scholar]
  5. Raub E., and Falkenburg G. Z. Metallkunde, 1964, 55, (4), 186 [Google Scholar]
  6. Selle J. E., McDougal J. R., and Schaeffer D. R. “The Compatibility of Plutonium-238 Dioxide with Platinum and Platinum-Rhodium Alloys”, Mound Laboratory Report MLM-1684, January 1970
  7. Kent R. A. “Thermodynamic Analysis of MHW Space Electric Power Generator”, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Report, LA-5202-MS, March 1973
  8. Kent R. A., and Zocher R. W. “Reduction of PuO2 by CO and Equilibrium Partial Pressures Above Plutonia”, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Report LA-6534, November 1976
  9. Liu C. T., and Inouye H. “Novel Platinum-Rhodium-Tungsten Alloy”, U.S. Patent 3,737,309; 1973 [Google Scholar]
  10. Inouye H., Liu C. T., and Donnelly R. G. “New Platinum-Rhodium-Tungsten Alloys for Space Isotopic Heat Sources”, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Report ORNL-4813, September 1972 [Google Scholar]
  11. Schaffhauser A. C. “Isotopic Power Materials Development Quart. Prog. Rep. Dec. 31, 1976”, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Report ORNL/TM-5882 [Google Scholar]
  12. Liu C. T., and Inouye H. “Modified Iridium-Tungsten Alloy”, U.S. Patent 3,970,450; 1976 [Google Scholar]
  13. Liu C. T., and Inouye H. “Study of Iridium and Iridium-Tungsten Alloys for Space Radioisotopic Heat Sources”, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Report ORNL-5240, December 1976 [Google Scholar]
  14. Inouye H., and Liu C. T. “Iridium-Hafnium Alloy”, U.S. Patent 3,918,965; 1975 [Google Scholar]
  15. Liu C. T., and Inouye H. “Post-Mortem Analysis of Ir-2%W Post-Impact Containment Shell”, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Report ORNL/TM-4943, July 1975 [Google Scholar]
  16. Liu C. T., and Inouye H. “Development and Characterization of an Improved Ir-0.3% W Alloy for Space Isotopic Heat Sources”, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Report ORNL-5290, October 1977 [Google Scholar]
  17. Inouye H., Heestand R. L., and Liu C. T. “Impact Properties and Fabricability of Thin-Walled Capsules of Pt-30% Rh-8% W”, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Report ORNL-5203, December 1976 [Google Scholar]
  18. Donnelly R. G. “Isotopic Power Materials Annu. Prog. Rep. June 30, 1975”, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Report ORNL/TM-5116 [Google Scholar]
  19. Rohr D. L., and Hecker S. S. “Fracture Behavior of a Pt-30% Rh-8% W Alloy Between Room Temperature and 1300°C”, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Report LA-UR-1189, July 1975
  20. Christie W. H., Smith D. H., and Inouye H. J. Radioanal. Chem. 1976, 32, (1), 85 [Google Scholar]
  21. Schaffhauser A. C. “Isotopic Power Materials Development Quart. Prog. Rep. June 30, 1976”, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Report ORNL/TM-5569 [Google Scholar]
  22. Harasyn D. E., and Schaffhauser A. C. “Grain Growth in Ir-0.3% W Alloys”, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Report ORNL-5233, January 1977 [Google Scholar]
  23. White C. L., and Liu C. T. Scripta Metall., 1978, 12, 727 [Google Scholar]
  24. and Rhys D. W. Betteridge W., “First Int. Congr. on Metallic Corrosion, London 1961,” p.186, ed. L. Kenworth, Butterworths, London, 1962 [Google Scholar]
  25. Chaston J. C. Platinum Metals Rev., 1971, 15, (4), 122 [Google Scholar]
  26. Phillips W. L. ASM Trans. Q., 1964, 57, (1), 33 [Google Scholar]
  27. Braski D. N., and Schaffhauser A. C. “Production of Ir-0.3% W Disks and Foil”, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Report ORNL/TM-4865, April 1975 [Google Scholar]
  28. Wyder W. C. “Warm Hydroforming of Ir-0.3% W Hemishells”, Mound Laboratory Report MLM-2203, Mar. 5, 1976
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1595/003214079X233100108
Loading
/content/journals/10.1595/003214079X233100108
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error