MICROFRACTOGRAPHY OF ALPHA PLUTONIUM--REPLICA TECHNIQUES

Electron microfractography has been utilized to characterize the fracture modes of deformation of unalloyed alpha plutonium over the temperature range --196 to 100 deg C. It has been found that the fracture mode at -- 196 deg C is entirely by intercrystalline separation. At the higher temperatures the fracture mode is primarily by transgranular cleavage with some evidence of ductile shear. (auth