Parts Per Billion Doping and Characterization of Uranium Distribution in an Epoxy Polymer Matrix

Published

October 12, 2021

Author(s)

Jim Mitchell, B S. Carpenter

Abstract

Formulating an epoxy polymer provides a broadly applicable method for homogeneously doping a chemically stable, particulate resistant and radiation hardened matrix with virtually any trace elements of interest. In the example reported, control of uranium levels over the range, 15 ?g/g to 15 ng/g, is demonstrated. Fission track density determinations, referenced to NIST SRM s, indicate 5% variations in lateral uranium distributions. Determinations of levels of uranium impurities in commercially available high-purity samples of graphite, fused silica, and aluminum, show respective ng/g ranges of 3 0.1 to 5 0.3; 3 0.8 to 27 2; and 113 11 to 546 11. The prepared polymer materials cover 3 orders of magnitude of uranium levels in an ideal matrix. This accomplishes the prerequisite for subsequent investigations of the chemistry occurring at fission fragment induced damage sites of selected track registering materials as a function of controlled reactive site densities. The matrix also serves as a source of swift heavy ions for creating nanoscale features in dielectric materials.

Citation

Analytical Chemistry

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

fission fragment ion sources, nanoscale features, nuclear track counting, ulratrace uranium

Citation

Mitchell, J. and Carpenter, B. (2021), Parts Per Billion Doping and Characterization of Uranium Distribution in an Epoxy Polymer Matrix, Analytical Chemistry (Accessed April 27, 2024)