This paper describes a study of the microstructure and mechanical properties of a range of cerium-lanthanum (Ce-La) alloys with La contents of between 3 wt. % and 10 wt. %. Ce-La alloys are regarded as non-radioactive surrogates for delta-phase plutonium (δ-Pu) alloys. The Ce-La alloys were characterised using optical microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction while the mechanical properties were determined using micro-hardness, ultrasonic velocity and nanoindentation measurements. The presence of La appears to impart a degree of solid solution hardening to the alloys, as indicated by the modest increase in micro-hardness with increasing La content; a small increase in elastic modulus with La content was also seen. The hardness and elastic modulus values of the Ce-La alloys in this study are similar to those of homogenized Pu-Ga alloys in the Ga-lean part of the δ-Pu phase field. Despite the propensity of the Ce-La alloys to undergo oxidation in air, the oxide thicknesses of the alloys, which were determined by energy dispersive spectroscopy, were found to be insufficient to exert a significant influence on the nanoindentation measurements.

本文介绍了一系列La含量在3 wt。％以下的铈镧（Ce-La）合金的组织和力学性能的研究。％和10 wt。％。Ce-La合金被视为δ相Pu（Pu）合金的非放射性替代物。Ce-La合金通过光学显微镜，能量色散谱和X射线衍射进行表征，而力学性能则通过显微硬度，超声速度和纳米压痕测量来确定。La的存在似乎使合金具有一定程度的固溶硬化，如随La含量的增加显微硬度的适度增加所表明的。随La含量的增加，弹性模量也有所增加。这项研究中的Ce-La合金的硬度和弹性模量值与δ-Pu相场的贫Ga部分中的均质Pu-Ga合金的硬度和弹性模量值相似。尽管Ce-La合金很容易在空气中氧化，但是通过能量色散光谱法测定的合金氧化物厚度不足以对纳米压痕测量产生重大影响。