Plutonium borides

The Plutoniumboride are a group of compounds that consist of the elements boron and plutonium. The hitherto known 4 Plutoniumboride formed by direct reaction of the two elements (boron in powder form) under an inert gas atmosphere at reduced pressure under certain temperature conditions.

Plutoniumborid

Plutoniumborid ( PuB ) is formed by reaction of both elements at a temperature of 1200 ° C, with a boron content of 40 to 70 %. It has a NaCl -type crystal structure ( like other boron compounds TiB, ZrB and HfB ). The bond length is 246 pm.

Another method is the reaction of a magnesium diboride Plutoniumhalogenids with low supply of heat. This process is used to convert more radiant and so dangerous radioactive substances in a less hazardous form camp.

Plutoniumdiborid

Plutoniumdiborid ( PUB2 ) is formed by reaction of the two elements at a temperature of 800 ° C, with a boron content of 60 to 65 %. It has the structure of AlB2 and UB2.

Plutoniumtetraborid / Plutoniumhexaborid

From 1200 ° C mixtures of Plutoniumtetraborid ( PuB4 ) and Plutoniumhexaborid ( PuB6 ), with a boron content of 70 to 85 % form; the amount of PuB6 increases with increase in temperature.

PuB4 has a tetragonal structure UB4, PuB6 the cubic CaB6 structure ( isomorphous with ThB6 ).