Theoretical study on the alloying behavior of γ-uranium metal: γ-uranium alloy with 3d transition metals

Abstract We have investigated the alloying behavior of γ-uranium with 3d transition metals (TMs) using the relativistic discrete-variational Dirac–Fock–Slater (DV-DFS) method. The d-orbital energy (Md) as an alloying parameter well reproduces the alloying behavior of γ-uranium metal with TMs: (1) in the case of a large Md value (Ti, V, Cr), the solubility of these TM elements in γ-uranium becomes large; (2) in the case of a middle Md value (Mn, Fe, Co), the tendency to form a uranium intermetallic compound with these elements becomes stronger; (3) in the case of a small Md value (Cu), the alloying element is insoluble in γ-uranium. The alloying behavior of γ-uranium with TMs is also discussed in terms of other parameters such as electronegativity and metallic radius.