Aluminium-gold reference material for the k0-standardisation of neutron activation analysis

Chris D. Ingelbrecht; Frans W. Peetermans; F. De Corte; A. De Wispelaere; C. Vandecasteele; E. Courtijn; P. D'Hondt

doi:10.1016/0168-9002(91)90774-K

Aluminium-gold reference material for the k₀-standardisation of neutron activation analysis

Chris D. Ingelbrecht, Frans W. Peetermans, F. De Corte, A. De Wispelaere, C. Vandecasteele, E. Courtijn, P. D'Hondt

Research output › peer-review

Abstract

Gold is an excellent comparator material for the k₀-standardisation of neutron activation analysis because of its convenient and well defined nuclear properties. The most suitable form for a reference material is a dilute aluminium-gold alloy, for which the self-shielding effect for neutrons is small. Castings of composition Al-0.1 wt.% Au were prepared by crucible-less levitation melting, which gives close control of ingot composition with minimal contamination of the melt. The alloy composition was checked using induction-coupled plasma source emission spectrometry. The homogeneity of the alloy was measured by neutron activation analysis and a relative standard deviation of the gold content of 0.30% was found (10 mg samples). Metallography revealed a homogeneous distribution of AuAl₂ particles. The alloy was certified as Reference Material CBNM-530, with certified gold mass fraction 0.100±0.002 wt.%.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	119-122
Number of pages	4
Journal	Nuclear Inst. and Methods in Physics Research, A
Volume	303
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(91)90774-K
State	Published - 15 May 1991

Funding

The cross section of gold for thermal, and especially for epithermal neutrons is relatively high and significant self-shielding can occur for the pure metal. The most convenient solution is to use a dilute Al-Au alloy, as * This work was carried out within the European Commis-sion research and development programme. * * Supported by the National Fund for Scientific Research.

Funders	Funder number
FRS-FNRS - Fond national de la recherche scientifique

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Instrumentation

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10.1016/0168-9002(91)90774-K

Cite this

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title = "Aluminium-gold reference material for the k0-standardisation of neutron activation analysis",

abstract = "Gold is an excellent comparator material for the k0-standardisation of neutron activation analysis because of its convenient and well defined nuclear properties. The most suitable form for a reference material is a dilute aluminium-gold alloy, for which the self-shielding effect for neutrons is small. Castings of composition Al-0.1 wt.% Au were prepared by crucible-less levitation melting, which gives close control of ingot composition with minimal contamination of the melt. The alloy composition was checked using induction-coupled plasma source emission spectrometry. The homogeneity of the alloy was measured by neutron activation analysis and a relative standard deviation of the gold content of 0.30% was found (10 mg samples). Metallography revealed a homogeneous distribution of AuAl2 particles. The alloy was certified as Reference Material CBNM-530, with certified gold mass fraction 0.100±0.002 wt.%.",

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AU - Ingelbrecht, Chris D.

AU - Peetermans, Frans W.

AU - De Corte, F.

AU - De Wispelaere, A.

AU - Vandecasteele, C.

AU - Courtijn, E.

AU - D'Hondt, P.

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N2 - Gold is an excellent comparator material for the k0-standardisation of neutron activation analysis because of its convenient and well defined nuclear properties. The most suitable form for a reference material is a dilute aluminium-gold alloy, for which the self-shielding effect for neutrons is small. Castings of composition Al-0.1 wt.% Au were prepared by crucible-less levitation melting, which gives close control of ingot composition with minimal contamination of the melt. The alloy composition was checked using induction-coupled plasma source emission spectrometry. The homogeneity of the alloy was measured by neutron activation analysis and a relative standard deviation of the gold content of 0.30% was found (10 mg samples). Metallography revealed a homogeneous distribution of AuAl2 particles. The alloy was certified as Reference Material CBNM-530, with certified gold mass fraction 0.100±0.002 wt.%.

AB - Gold is an excellent comparator material for the k0-standardisation of neutron activation analysis because of its convenient and well defined nuclear properties. The most suitable form for a reference material is a dilute aluminium-gold alloy, for which the self-shielding effect for neutrons is small. Castings of composition Al-0.1 wt.% Au were prepared by crucible-less levitation melting, which gives close control of ingot composition with minimal contamination of the melt. The alloy composition was checked using induction-coupled plasma source emission spectrometry. The homogeneity of the alloy was measured by neutron activation analysis and a relative standard deviation of the gold content of 0.30% was found (10 mg samples). Metallography revealed a homogeneous distribution of AuAl2 particles. The alloy was certified as Reference Material CBNM-530, with certified gold mass fraction 0.100±0.002 wt.%.

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