Skip to main content

Design of an inelastic neutron scattering system based on DT neutron generator for metallic materials analysis

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry volume 329, pages 301–308 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

An inelastic neutron scattering system was developed to determine the elemental composition of large metallic materials. The geometrical size of the system was optimized by using Monte Carlo simulation. An experimental setup consisted of a DT neutron generator and a HPGe detector was built based on the optimized configuration and applied to analyze titanium samples. The net peak areas of titanium versus sample mass showed a linear dependence and the mass detection limit was 64 g. The prompt gamma spectra were compared to simulation data. The results demonstrated a good agreement for the signal-to-background ratio of titanium peak between measurements and simulations.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

References

  1. Semenova IP, Polyakova VV, Dyakonov GS, Polyakov AV (2020) Ultrafine-grained titanium-based alloys: structure and service properties for engineering applications. Adv Eng Mater 22:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/adem.201900651

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Kleedtke N, Hua M, Pozzi S (2021) A genetic algorithm optimization of tin–copper graded shielding for improved plutonium safeguards measurements. Nucl Inst Methods Phys Res A 988:164877. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2020.164877

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kurzynowski T, Pawlak A, Smolina I (2020) The potential of SLM technology for processing magnesium alloys in aerospace industry. Arch Civ Mech Eng 20:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43452-020-00033-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Tapia G, Elwany A (2014) A review on process monitoring and control in metal-based additive manufacturing. J Manuf Sci Eng Trans ASME 136:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4028540

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Lednev VN, Sdvizhenskii PA, Asyutin RD et al (2019) In situ multi-elemental analysis by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy in additive manufacturing. Addit Manuf 25:64–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2018.10.043

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Garmay AV, Oskolok KV, Monogarova OV (2020) Improved accuracy of multicomponent samples analysis by x-ray fluorescence using relative intensities and scattered radiation: a review. Anal Lett 53:2685–2699. https://doi.org/10.1080/00032719.2020.1751651

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wu J, Qiu Y, Li X et al (2020) Progress of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy in nuclear industry applications. J Phys D Appl Phys. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/ab477a

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Tamilarasu S, Velraj G, Ray DK, Acharya R (2016) Chemical analysis of archaeological clay potteries by PIGE and PIXE methods using proton beams from tandem accelerator for provenance study. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 310:363–370. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4842-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Sari A, Garti S, Lainé F et al (2020) Detection and quantification of copper in scrap metal by linac-based neutron activation analysis. Appl Radiat Isot 166:109339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109339

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kasztovszky Z, Révay Z, Belgya T et al (2000) Nondestructive analysis of metals by PGAA at the Budapest Research Reactor. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 244:379–382. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006791710995

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Révay Z (2009) Determining elemental composition using prompt γ activation analysis. Anal Chem 81:6851–6859. https://doi.org/10.1021/ac9011705

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Nair AGC, Sudarshan K, Raje N et al (2004) Analysis of alloys by prompt gamma-ray neutron activation. Nucl Instruments Methods Phys Res Sect A Accel Spectrometers, Detect Assoc Equip 516:143–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2003.07.044

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Tian KV, Festa G, Szentmiklósi L et al (2017) Compositional studies of functional orthodontic archwires using prompt-gamma activation analysis at a pulsed neutron source. J Anal At Spectrom 32:1420–1427. https://doi.org/10.1039/c7ja00065k

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Arcidiacono L, Martinón-Torres M, Senesi R et al (2020) Cu-based alloys as a benchmark for T-PGAA quantitative analysis at spallation neutron sources. J Anal At Spectrom 35:331–340. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9ja00268e

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Maróti B, Kis Z, Szentmiklósi L et al (2017) Characterization of a South-Levantine bronze sculpture using position-sensitive prompt gamma activation analysis and neutron imaging. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 312:367–375. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5219-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Sudarshan K, Tripathi R, Nair AGC et al (2005) A simple method for correcting the neutron self-shielding effect of matrix and improving the analytical response in prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analysis. Anal Chim Acta 549:205–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2005.06.021

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Randriamalala TH, Rossbach M, Mauerhofer E et al (2016) FaNGaS: a new instrument for (n, n′γ) reaction measurements at FRM II. Nucl Instruments Methods Phys Res Sect A Accel Spectrometers, Detect Assoc Equip 806:370–377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2015.10.026

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Naqvi AA, Khiari FZ, Al-Abdallah T et al (2019) Detection of sulfur in soil samples using 2.5 MeV neutron activation. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 321:355–360. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06589-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Yakubova G, Kavetskiy A, Prior SA, Allen Torbert H (2019) Application of neutron-gamma analysis for determining compost C/N ratio. Compost Sci Util 27:146–160. https://doi.org/10.1080/1065657X.2019.1630339

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Abel MR, Nie LH (2019) Improving the sensitivity of fast neutron inelastic scatter analysis to iron using associated particle collimation. Nucl Instruments Methods Phys Res Sect A Accel Spectrometers, Detect Assoc Equip 932:31–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2019.04.054

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Mauerhofer E, Havenith A (2014) The MEDINA facility for the assay of the chemotoxic inventory of radioactive waste packages. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 302:483–488. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3210-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Arce P, Ignacio Lagares J, Harkness L et al (2014) Gamos: a framework to do Geant4 simulations in different physics fields with an user-friendly interface. Nucl Instruments Methods Phys Res Sect A Accel Spectrometers, Detect Assoc Equip 735:304–313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2013.09.036

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Hei D, Jia W, Cheng C et al (2021) Feasibility study of fast neutron-induced gamma ray imaging of large sample based on D-T neutron generator. Nucl Inst Methods Phys Res B 492:7–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2021.01.014

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Yamauchi A, Iwasaki M, Hayashi K, Tsuji K (2019) Evaluation of full-field energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence imaging apparatus and super resolution analysis with compressed sensing technique. X-Ray Spectrom 48:644–650. https://doi.org/10.1002/xrs.3055

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ilic Z, Mauerhofer E, Stieghorst C et al (2020) Prompt gamma rays induced by inelastic scattering of fission neutrons on iron. J Radioanal Nucl Chem. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07271-w

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Olacel A, Belloni F, Borcea C et al (2017) Neutron inelastic scattering measurements on the stable isotopes of titanium. Phys Rev C 96:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.96.014621

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Mildenberger F, Mauerhofer E (2017) Cyclic neutron activation analysis of large samples with a pulsed 14 MeV neutron source. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 311:917–927. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-5098-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Szentmiklósi L (2018) Fitting special peak shapes of prompt gamma spectra. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 315:663–670. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5589-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Cheng C, Wei Z, Hei D et al (2020) MCNP benchmark of a 252Cf source-based PGNAA system for bulk sample analysis. Appl Radiat Isot 158:109045. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109045

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Yakubova G, Kavetskiy A, Prior SA, Torbert HA (2017) Applying Monte-Carlo simulations to optimize an inelastic neutron scattering system for soil carbon analysis. Appl Radiat Isot 128:237–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.07.003

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (11775113 and 11975121).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Daqian Hei & Zeen Yao

  2. Institute of Nuclear Analytical Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China

    Daqian Hei, Wenbao Jia, Can Cheng, Qing Shan, Yongsheng Ling & Haoyu Lei

Authors
  1. Daqian Hei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wenbao Jia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Can Cheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zeen Yao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Qing Shan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yongsheng Ling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Haoyu Lei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daqian Hei.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hei, D., Jia, W., Cheng, C. et al. Design of an inelastic neutron scattering system based on DT neutron generator for metallic materials analysis. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 329, 301–308 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07755-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07755-3

Keywords

  • Inelastic neutron scattering
  • Metallic materials
  • Neutron generator
  • GAMOS