Development of a (147)Pm source for beta-backscatter thickness gauge applications.

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Accurate measurement of graphite coating thickness is vital for nuclear fuel integrity.
• Existing methods may have limitations in precision or application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a reliable method for preparing Promethium-147 (¹⁴⁷Pm) radioactive sources.
• To enable precise determination of graphite coating thickness on zircaloy cladding tubes.

Main Methods:

• Adsorption of ¹⁴⁷Pm onto a specifically prepared aluminum rod surface.
• Anodization of the aluminum rod tip followed by immersion in a ¹⁴⁷Pm solution.
• Coating the radioactive area with Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) to prevent leaching.
• Assaying incorporated activity using a calibrated ion chamber.

Main Results:

• Successful preparation of stable ¹⁴⁷Pm sources with controlled activity.
• Quality control confirmed non-leachability, uniform activity distribution, and source stability.
• The developed method facilitates accurate graphite coating thickness measurements.

Conclusions:

• The described method provides a robust way to create ¹⁴⁷Pm sources for nuclear fuel analysis.
• This technique enhances the capability for precise graphite coating thickness determination.
• The prepared sources meet quality standards for reliable application.