THE TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS OF LARGE FISSION PRODUCT BETA SOURCES. Quarterly Report for the Period October 1 to December 31, 1961

Technical Report · Thu Jan 18 04:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4811407

Weinstock, J J; Microcznik, E Y; Ziegel, K D

Developments are reported in the development and testing of methods and materials for the fabrication of large, rugged, and safe BETA radiation sources and the development and demonstration of process applications for such sources. The composition and acid solubility of a nonactive enamel containing Sm oxide are reported. This formulation was used for the preparation of Pm/sup 147/ enamel. The effect of furnace atmosphere during firing on the acid solubility of Ce oxide enamel was investigated. The mechanical impact resistance of non-active Ce enamel was improved by using --200 mesh powder for coating of slides rather than the --100 + 200 mesh previously employed. No effect on thermal and mechanical shock resistance of Ce, Sr, and Sm enamels was observed after irradiation to l0i0 rads with 1.0-Mev electrons. The performance of Ce enameled slides in various electrolytic solutions was investigated. New techniques were employed to produce samples of non-active enamel supported by a wire mesh structure as part of a study to improve the efficiency of vitreous enamel BETA sources. A 150-gm batch of enamel containing 900 mc of Pm/sup 147/ was prepared and used to prepare active pellets and slides for leach and dosimetry studies. Leach test data are presented for Ce enamels with Ce/sup 144/ tracer and for Pm/sup 144/ enamel. The equations for dosimetry of small Ce/sup 144/--Pr/sup 144/ sources were revised using more accurate data for the average BETA energy. A preliminary engineering design and cost estimate are presented for a research BETA irradiator. This unit would use 5900 c of Sr/sup 90/ and would cost ,600. It is designed for the study of continuous radiation-induced graft polymerization and BETA irradiation of small packages. (C.H.)

• Research Organization: Radiation Applications Inc., Long Island City, N.Y.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-007810
• OSTI ID: 4811407
• Report Number(s): RAI-200
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACIDS
BETA PARTICLES
BETA SOURCES
CERAMICS
CERIUM
CERIUM 144
CERIUM OXIDES
COATING
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROLYTES
ELECTRON SOURCES
ELECTRONS
ENAMELS
FABRICATION
GRAFTS
IMPACT SHOCK
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS OF ISOTOPES AND RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
LEACHING
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
PARTICLE SOURCES
PELLETS
POLYMERIZATION
POWDERS
PRASEODYMIUM 144
PROMETHIUM 147
RADIATION DOSES
SAMARIUM OXIDES
SOLUBILITY
SOLUTIONS
STRONTIUM
STRONTIUM 90
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRANSPLANTS
USES