Method for making radioactive metal articles having small dimensions

Patent · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000

OSTI ID:873309

Ohriner, Evan K ^[1]

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1. Knoxville, TN

A method for making a radioactive article such as wire, includes the steps of providing a metal article having a first shape, such a cylinder, that is either radioactive itself or can be converted to a second, radioactive isotope by irradiation; melting the metal article one or more times; optionally adding an alloying metal to the molten metal in order to enhance ductility or other properties; placing the metal article having the first shape (e.g., cylindrical) into a cavity in the interior of an extrusion body (e.g., a cylinder having a cylindrical cavity therein); extruding the extrusion body and the article having the first shape located in the cavity therein, resulting in an elongated extrusion body and an article having a second shape; removing the elongated extrusion body, for example by chemical means, leaving the elongated inner article substantially intact; optionally repeating the extrusion procedure one or more times; and then drawing the elongated article to still further elongate it, into wire, foil, or another desired shape. If the starting metal is enriched in a radioactive isotope or a precursor thereof, the end product can provide a more intense radiation source than conventionally manufactured radioactive wire, foil, or the like.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-96OR22464
• Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Patent Number(s): US 6132677
• OSTI ID: 873309
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
radioactive
metal
articles
dimensions
article
wire
steps
providing
shape
cylinder
converted
isotope
irradiation
melting
times
optionally
adding
alloying
molten
enhance
ductility
properties
placing
cylindrical
cavity
interior
extrusion
therein
extruding
located
resulting
elongated
removing
example
chemical
means
leaving
inner
substantially
intact
repeating
procedure
drawing
elongate
foil
desired
starting
enriched
precursor
product
provide
intense
radiation
source
conventionally
manufactured
metal articles
optionally adding
radioactive metal
radioactive isotope
metal article
cylindrical cavity
active metal
molten metal
radiation source
desired shape
alloying metal
cavity therein
shape located
elongated inner
/419/29/72/