15 Plutonium Uses : Facts You Should Know!

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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.
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    Plutonium Uses

    Conclusion

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