Open AccessProduction of ``X`` buttons in the 234-5 Building
Author(s) -
Paul Collins
Publication year - 1952
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/71274
Subject(s) - plutonium , crucible (geodemography) , radiochemistry , materials science , metallurgy , chemistry , computational chemistry
Since 1945 the routine production of plutonium (``A`` buttons) at Atomic Energy plants has been accomplished by heating mixtures of plutonium tetrafluoride, calcium and iodine in crucible-bomb assemblies. Yields above 97% and metal of adequate purity are consistently obtained by this process. Plutonium (``X`` button) production has also been carried out routinely by including plutonium turnings with the powder mixture given above. A majority (several thousand) of buttons produced in the 234-5 Building have been ``X`` buttons made by recycling up to 1.1 units of turnings/unit of plutonium in the plutonium tetrafluoride. Operating hazards exist in either process, however, and these are reviewed below