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Title: Method for making radioactive metal articles having small dimensions

Abstract

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.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Knoxville, TN
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
873309
Patent Number(s):
6132677
Assignee:
Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation (Oak Ridge, TN)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
A - HUMAN NECESSITIES A61 - MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE A61K - PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR TOILET PURPOSES
A - HUMAN NECESSITIES A61 - MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE A61N - ELECTROTHERAPY
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-96OR22464
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
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/

Citation Formats

Ohriner, Evan K. Method for making radioactive metal articles having small dimensions. United States: N. p., 2000. Web.
Ohriner, Evan K. Method for making radioactive metal articles having small dimensions. United States.
Ohriner, Evan K. Sat . "Method for making radioactive metal articles having small dimensions". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/873309.
@article{osti_873309,
title = {Method for making radioactive metal articles having small dimensions},
author = {Ohriner, Evan K},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2000},
month = {1}
}