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Some problems associated with the use of boron carbide neutron filters for reactor epithermal neutron activation analysis (ENAA)

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Abstract

The radiation heating caused by the10B(n, α)7Li-reaction in boron carbide (B4 C) neutron filters used for epithermal neutron activation analysis has been examined by measuring rates of temperature rise and steady-state temperatures of sintered and powdered B4C filters placed in dry air and reactor pool-water during irradiation, respectively. Maximum equilibrium temperatures of 195°C for air-cooled sintered, and 50°C for water-cooled powdered B4C were observed, confirming the necessity for efficient cooling of the filter during irradiation. It is noted that the accumulation of the10B(n, α)7Li-reaction products in B4C and other boron compounds may severely limit the reuse of the filters in subsequent irradiations.

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Author notes

  1. F. Chisela (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) Fellow)

    Present address: Department of physics, University of Zambia at Lusaka, Lusaka, Zambia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Trace Elements in Biomedicine Research Group, Hahn-Meitner-Institute of Nuclear Research, Glienicker Str. 100, 1000, Berlin 39

    F. Chisela (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) Fellow), D. Gawlik & P. Brätter

Authors
  1. F. Chisela
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  2. D. Gawlik
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  3. P. Brätter
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Chisela, F., Gawlik, D. & Brätter, P. Some problems associated with the use of boron carbide neutron filters for reactor epithermal neutron activation analysis (ENAA). Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 98, 133–140 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02060441

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02060441

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