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Direct Analysis of Plutonium Metal for Gallium, Iron and Nickel by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2019

H. L. Bramlet
Affiliation:
Rockwell International P. O. Box 464 Golden, CO 80401
J. H. Doyle
Affiliation:
Rockwell International P. O. Box 464 Golden, CO 80401
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Abstract

An x-ray secondary target method for routine determination of gallium, iron, and nickel in plutonium metal is described that has significant advantages over wet chemical analysis. Coupons requiring minimal preparation for analysis are produced as a breakaway tab on the plutonium ingot. All three elements are determined on the same coupon. Gallium is determined using an arsenic secondary target followed by iron and nickel using a zinc target. The analysis times are 5 minutes for gallium and 15 minutes for the combined iron and nickel. The method of analysis was evaluated in the range of from 0.5 to 1.5% gallium. Iron was investigated over the range of 67 to 3000 ppm and nickel from 64 to 110 ppm.

Type
IV. XRF Applications : Metals, Catalysts, Oils
Copyright
Copyright © International Centre for Diffraction Data 1981

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Footnotes

*

Work performed under Department of Energy Contract DE-AC04-76DP03533

References

1. Wallace, P. L., Hosmer, P. K., Walden, J. C., and Haugen, W. L., “The Direct Measurement of Gain Binary Pu-Ga Alloys Using X-ray Spectrometric Techniques”, X-Ray Spectrometry, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 212, 1978.Google Scholar