15 Plutonium Uses : Facts You Should Know!

Plutonium is a silvery-gray actinide metal that tarnishes when exposed to air and forms a gloomy coating when oxidized. Let us see the various industrial applications of Pu.

The following are some of the industrial applications of plutonium:

• Source of energy

• In nuclear defenses

• In satellites

• As a fuel 

• Radioactivity

Plutonium is a radioactive chemical element with a silvery-gray appearance. Let us focus on the wide variety of uses of Plutonium in this article.

Source of energy

• Plutonium has been used to power spacecraft for example the Mars Curiosity Rover and the New Horizons spaceships on their way to Pluto.
• Plutonium was used as a neutron energy threshold detector.
• Plutonium is used to generate approximately one-third of the total energy generated in a nuclear power plant.

In nuclear defenses

• Plutonium is used in nuclear defenses because it is a key fissile component and it is easier to obtain and fission.
• Plutonium-239 is employed for nuclear shields production.

In satellites

• Plutonium 238 produces a lot of heat during its radioactive decay, making it a good candidate for a heat source for sensitive electrical components in satellites (battery power).
• Plutonium serves as a long-lasting heat source for NASA space missions.

As a fuel 

Plutonium-239 is mainly used as a nuclear reactor fuel.

Radioactivity

• Plutonium’s radioactivity prevents it from being useful in any application.
• Radioactive materials are utilized in a variety of industries to inspect metal parts and weld integrity.
• Plutonium-238 produces a lot of heat during its radioactive decay.

Conclusion

Plutonium has a low melting point of 640^oC (1184⁰F) and an unusually high boiling point of 3,228^oC (5,842⁰F ). Metallic Pu is created by heating plutonium tetrafluoride to 1200^oC and reacting it with barium, calcium, or lithium.