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THE MEASUREMENT OF WATER CONTENT OF THIN SAMPLES BY MEANS OF THE DIFFUSION OF THERMAL NEUTRONS

Journal Article · · RILEM
OSTI ID:4748863
A method for the measurement of water content in thin samples is based on the fact that the diffusion cross section of thermal neutrons for H is very large in comparison with the total diffusion cross-section, which is in the vicinity of 0.11 cm/sup 2//g, for common materials. The emission of thermal neutrons is produced by a neutron gun in which a source of Ra/sup 226/- Be is surrounded by paraffin in order to obtain complete thermalization of neutrons. About 40 mC of Ra/sup 226/ Be are placed in the center of a paraffin block, which is encased in a double layer of Cd and B/sub 4/C. A 15-mm dia channel is drilled into the paraffin block as an outlet for the neutron flux. A 20-mm thick sample, in which the water content is to be determined, is placed in front of the outlet. B/sub 4/C shields, in which small windows are drilled to serve as collimators, are placed in front of and behind the sample. The neutron flux is measured with BF/sub 3/ gas-filled counters placed in front of the collimators. If the window is 10 cm/sup 2/, the intensity without the sample is about 3000 pulse/min. while the background is only 230 pulses. The results are expressed as a function of flux attenuation or as a ratio of I/I. In this way, the absorption due to pure water and to the water content of cement, sand, limonite, baryta, and other materials can be determined. (OID)
Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-17-015902
OSTI ID:
4748863
Journal Information:
RILEM, Journal Name: RILEM Vol. Vol: No. 15
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

BARIUM HYDROXIDES
BARIUM OXIDES
BERYLLIUM
BORON CARBIDES
BORON FLUORIDES
CADMIUM
CEMENTS
CHEMISTRY
COUNTERS
CROSS SECTIONS
DIFFUSION
HYDROGEN
IRON OXIDES
LENSES
LIMONITE
NEUTRON BEAMS
PARAFFIN
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
RADIUM 226
SAND
SEALS
THERMAL NEUTRONS
WATER