Advanced x-ray spectrometric techniques for characterization of nuclear materials: An overview of recent laboratory activities

作者：Misra N L^*

来源：Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy , 2014, 101: 134-139.

DOI：10.1016/j.sab.2014.07.021

• TXRF
• EDXRF
• Micro-XRF
• Trace elements
• Nuclear materials

Advancements in x-ray spectrometric techniques at different stages have made this technique suitable for characterization of nuclear materials with respect to trace/major element determinations and compositional uniformity studies. The two important features of total reflection x-ray fluorescence spectrometry: 1) requirement of very small amount of sample in ng level 2) multielement analytical capability, in addition to other features, make this technique very much suitable to nuclear materials characterization as most of the nuclear materials are radioactive and the radioactive waste generated and radiation hazards to the operator are minimum when such low amount of sample is used. Similarly advanced features of energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence e.g. better geometry for high flux, reduction in background due to application of radiation filters have made the measurements of samples sealed inside thin, alkathene/PVC covers possible with good sensitivity. This approach avoids putting the instrument inside a glove box for measuring radioactive samples and makes the operation/maintenance of the instrument and analysis of the samples possible in easy and fast manner. This approach has been used for major element determinations in mixed uranium-plutonium samples. Similarly mu-XRF with brilliant and micro-focused excitation sources can be used for compositional uniformity study of reactor fuel pellets. A mu-XRF study using synchrotron light source has been made to assess the compositional uniformity of mixed uranium-thorium oxide pellets produced by different processes. This approach is simple as it does not involve any sample preparation and is non-destructive. A brief summary of such activities carried out in our laboratory in past as well as ongoing and planned for the future have been discussed in the present manuscript.

• 出版日期2014-11-1