Commercial and industrial use of {sup 252}Cf: The first 30 years

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 2000 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society

OSTI ID:20093655

Janzow, E F; Janzow, T L

Within a few years after the identification of {sup 252}Cf in the debris of a 1952 thermonuclear explosion, it was known that a substantial fraction of {sup 252}Cf decays produce neutrons by spontaneous fission, with an effective half-life of {approximately}2.6 yr. This combination of properties identified {sup 252}Cf as an isotope uniquely suitable as a neutron source. A short history from the mid-1950s to the early 1970s of the Atomic Energy Commission's (AEC's) activities to develop production capacity for gram quantities of {sup 252}Cf and to initiate development of medical and commercial technology is presented. Emphasis is given to the AEC's {sup 252}Cf Market Evaluation Program, Source Loan Program, and continual developmental efforts on {sup 252}Cf material forms, source designs, and data as a means of promoting commercial source fabrication and commercial uses of {sup 252}Cf.

• OSTI ID: 20093655
• Journal Information: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 82; ISSN 0003-018X; ISSN TANSAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES
CALIFORNIUM 252
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
NEUTRON SOURCES
USES