ASTM E263-09
Standard Test Method for Measuring Fast-Neutron Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Iron
- Standard No.
- ASTM E263-09
- Release Date
- 2009
- Published By
- American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
- Status
- Replace By
- ASTM E263-13
- Latest
- ASTM E263-18
- Scope
- DESIG: E 263 09 ^TITLE: Standard Test Method for Measuring Fast-Neutron Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Iron ^SIGNUSE:
Refer to Guide E 844
for guidance on the selection, irradiation, and quality control of neutron dosimeters. Refer to Practice E 261
for a general discussion of the determination of fast-neutron fluence rate with threshold detectors. Pure iron in the form of foil or wire is readily available and easily handled.
Fig. 1 shows a plot of cross section as a function of neutron energy for the fast-neutron reaction 54Fe(n,p)54Mn (1). This figure is for illustrative purposes only to indicate the range of response of the 54Fe(n,p)54Mn reaction. Refer to Guide E 1018
for descriptions of recommended tabulated dosimetry cross sections. 54Mn has a half-life of 312.13 days (3) (2) and emits a gamma ray with an energy of 834.845 keV (5). (2)
Interfering activities generated by neutron activation arising from thermal or fast neutron interactions are 2.57878 (46)-h 56Mn, 44.95-d (8) 59Fe, and 5.2710-y (8) 60Co (2,3). (Consult Ref (2) for more precise values currently accepted for the half-lives.) Interference from 56Mn can be eliminated by waiting 48 h before counting. Although chemical separation of 54Mn from the irradiated iron is the most effective method for eliminating 59Fe and 60Co, direct counting of iron for 54Mn is possible using high-resolution detector systems or unfolding or stripping techniques, especially if the dosimeter was covered with cadmium or boron during irradiation. Altering the isotopic composition of the iron dosimeter is another useful technique for eliminating interference from extraneous activities when direct sample counting is to be employed.
The vapor pressures of manganese and iron are such that manganese diffusion losses from iron can become significant at temperatures above about 700°C. Therefore, precautions must be taken to avoid the diffusion loss of 54Mn from iron dosimeters at high temperature. Encapsulating the iron dosimeter in quartz or vanadium will contain the manganese at temperatures up to about 900°C.
Sections 6, 7 and 8 that follow were specifically written to describe the method of chemical separation and subsequent counting of the 54Mn activity. When one elects to count the iron dosimeters directly, those portions of Sections 6, 7 and 8 that pertain to radiochemical separation should be disregarded.
Note 18212;The following portions of this test method apply also to direct sample-counting methods: 6.1-6.3, 7.4, 7.9, 7.10, 8.1-8.5, 8.18, 8.19, and 10-13.
^SCOPE:
FIG. 1 54Fe(n,p)54Mn Cross Section1.1 This test method describes procedures for measuring reaction rates by the activation reaction 54Fe(n,p)54Mn.
1.2 This activation reaction is useful for measuring neutrons with energies above approximately 2.2 MeV and for irradiation times up to about 3 years (for longer irradiations, see Practice E 261
). 1.3 With suitable techniques, fission-neutron fluence rates above 108 cm−2·s−1 can be determin......
ASTM E263-09 history
- 2018 ASTM E263-18 Standard Test Method for Measuring Fast-Neutron Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Iron
- 2013 ASTM E263-13 Standard Test Method for Measuring Fast-Neutron Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Iron
- 2009 ASTM E263-09 Standard Test Method for Measuring Fast-Neutron Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Iron
- 2005 ASTM E263-05 Standard Test Method for Measuring Fast-Neutron Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Iron
- 2000 ASTM E263-00 Standard Test Method for Measuring Fast-Neutron Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Iron