Intermetallics and alloys of transplutonium elements with metals of the platinum group

Americium and curium alloys with palladium and platinum containing up to 20% of actinide were prepared by the coupled reduction technique. The alloys obtained were investigated by X-ray, differential thermal analysis and metallography. Phase diagram sections for Pd–Am, Pd–Cm, Pt–Am and Pt–Cm systems have been constructed. Intermetallics Pt₅An (An=²⁴³Am,²⁴⁴Cm,²⁴⁹Bk,²⁴⁹Cf), Ir₂ ²⁴⁹Bk and Rh₃ ²³⁹Bk were obtained as thin layers on the surfaces of metallic substrates. X-ray investigation has shown that Pt₅An compounds have hexagonal structures of the Cu₅Ca-type, Ir₂Bk- cubic lattice of the Cu₂Mg-type and Rh₃Bk intermetallic has fcc lattice of the Cu₃Au-type. The influence of intensive -decay of transplutonium nuclides on the crystal structure of the intermetallics prepared has been investigated.