Assessing the Microscale Heterogeneity in Candidate Standard Reference Material 4600: Surrogate Post-detonation Urban Debris

Published

August 18, 2021

Author(s)

Jacqueline L. Mann, John L. Molloy, Mark Tyra, Kevin Pfeuffer, Barbara Fallon, JoAnn Buscaglia

Abstract

Nondestructive microbeam X-ray fluorescence (µXRF) spectrometry has been used to investigate the elemental microheterogeneity in a candidate nuclear forensics reference material (RM), NIST SRM 4600: Surrogate Post-detonation Urban Debris. Using a principal component analysis (PCA) model, results indicate that the majority of elements appear homogeneous; however, zinc (Zn) exhibits microscale (< 400 µg) heterogeneity for this candidate SRM. To minimize contributions to the measurement uncertainty from elemental microheterogeneity, a minimum sample mass of 24 mg is recommended for analysis.

Citation

Applied Radiation and Isotopes

Volume

172

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2021.109651

Local Download

Keywords

surrogate debris, X-ray fluorescence, PCA analysis, microheterogeneity, nuclear forensics

Citation

Mann, J. , Molloy, J. , Tyra, M. , Pfeuffer, K. , Fallon, B. and Buscaglia, J. (2021), Assessing the Microscale Heterogeneity in Candidate Standard Reference Material 4600: Surrogate Post-detonation Urban Debris, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2021.109651, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=930656 (Accessed October 21, 2025)