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U.S. Department of Energy
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Commercial and Industrial Use of {sup 252}Cf: The First 30 years

Conference ·
OSTI ID:786145
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 {approx}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.
Research Organization:
Frontier Technology Corporation, Xenia, OH (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
none (US)
OSTI ID:
786145
Report Number(s):
none; ISSN 0003-018X; CODEN TANSAO; ISSN 0003-018X; CODEN TANSAO
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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