Introduction to Pits and Weapons Systems (U)

Kautz, D.¹ 

[1] Los Alamos National Laboratory

关键词: Military Technology;    Weaponry;    & National Defense(45);    ALUMINIUM;    BERYLLIUM;    CASTING;    DAUGHTER PRODUCTS;    DECAY;    FABRICATION;    GLOVEBOXES;    MACHINING;    NUCLEAR ENERGY;    NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVES;    OXIDES;    PARTICULATES;    PHYSICAL PROPERTIES;    PLUTONIUM;    PLUTONIUM OXIDES;    RADIATIONS;    RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS;    SHIELDING;    STAINLESS STEELS;    TITANIUM;    URANIUM;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1045390
RP-ID  :  LA-UR-12-22626
PID  :  OSTI ID: 1045390
Others  :  TRN: US201215%%186

美国|英语

来源: SciTech Connect

【 摘 要 】

A Nuclear Explosive Package includes the Primary, Secondary, Radiation Case and related components. This is the part of the weapon that produces nuclear yield and it converts mechanical energy into nuclear energy. The pit is composed of materials that allow mechanical energy to be converted to electromagnetic energy. Fabrication processes used are typical of any metal fabrication facility: casting, forming, machining and welding. Some of the materials used in pits include: Plutonium, Uranium, Stainless Steel, Beryllium, Titanium, and Aluminum. Gloveboxes are used for three reasons: (1) Protect workers and public from easily transported, finely divided plutonium oxides - (a) Plutonium is very reactive and produces very fine particulate oxides, (b) While not the 'Most dangerous material in the world' of Manhattan Project lore, plutonium is hazardous to health of workers if not properly controlled; (2) Protect plutonium from reactive materials - (a) Plutonium is extremely reactive at ambient conditions with several components found in air: oxygen, water, hydrogen, (b) As with most reactive metals, reactions with these materials may be violent and difficult to control, (c) As with most fabricated metal products, corrosion may significantly affect the mechanical, chemical, and physical properties of the product; and (3) Provide shielding from radioactive decay products: {alpha}, {gamma}, and {eta} are commonly associated with plutonium decay, as well as highly radioactive materials such as {sup 241}Am and {sup 238}Pu.