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Decoupling of Uranium Metal with Borated Plaster Using 252Cf Nose Analysis Methods

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6460611
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
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The use of borated plaster to isolate uranium (93.2 wt % 235U) metal was studied in a series of subcritical experiments with uranium metal cylinders (7.0 in. diam, 2.0 in. thick) and slabs (~1.4 x ~5.4 x ~10.1 in. dimensions). In the cylindrical experiments, the thickness of borated plaster was varied up to 10 in. and the subcriticality measured using the 252Cf-source-driven neutron noise analysis method. In the experiments with the uranium slabs, an array of slabs 3 wide and 8 high was assembled in steps to demonstrate the subcriticality of this array with 3.75-in.-thick borated plaster as an isolating material between all uranium slabs. In the slab experiments, both noise analysis and source neutron multiplication measurements were performed. Before assembly of the slab array the presence of boron in the plaster was verified by neutron transmission and gamma-ray spectrometry measurements.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
6460611
Report Number(s):
CONF-851115--36; ON: DE86002451
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420500* -- Engineering-- Materials Testing
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ACTINIDE ALLOYS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALLOYS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BORATES
BORON COMPOUNDS
CALIFORNIUM 252
CALIFORNIUM ISOTOPES
CYLINDERS
DECOUPLING
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
Experiments
GAMMA RADIATION
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
HEAVY NUCLEI
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOTOPES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
Measurements
NOISE
NUCLEI
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
SPECTROMETERS
SUBCRITICALITY
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
Slab Experiments
URANIUM ALLOYS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES