The application of neutron radioscopy to lithium-aluminum alloy target elements

Conference · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6196349

Antal, J J; Marotta, A S ^[1]; Salaymeh, S R; Varallo, T P ^[2]

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1. Army Materials Research Agency, Watertown, MA (USA). Materials Technology Lab.
2. Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (USA)

We have shown that neutron radioscopy is very useful in locating the position of a Li-Al alloy core enriched in lithium-6 in tubular aluminum target elements. The alloy core is displaced during a forming process and its location must be redetermined before processing can be completed. The Army's low-flux mobile neutron radioscopy system was employed in these studies as a model system for possible on-line, in-plant use. A series of core end sections of target tubes containing from 0.1 to 4.6 grams of lithium-6 per foot of length were examined radioscopically with thermal neutrons. The system was able to determine the extent of lithium alloy core from the highest concentrations down to about 0.2 grams of lithium-6 per ft within one minute of data collection time. A marked loss of sensitivity below this level could be recovered by providing higher geometrical resolution in the images obtained or by using image enhancement techniques. Film radiography was used to verify the accuracy of radioscopic determinations at the lowest lithium concentrations. 7 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• OSTI ID: 6196349
• Report Number(s): WSRC-RP-89-413; CONF-8904358-1; ON: DE91005138
• Resource Relation: Conference: 17. symposium on nondestructive evaluation, San Antonio, TX (USA), 17-20 Apr 1989
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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37 INORGANIC
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PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ALUMINIUM BASE ALLOYS
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LITHIUM ALLOYS
IMAGE PROCESSING
LITHIUM 6 TARGET
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
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ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY
MATERIALS TESTING
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