Design and Testing of a Transport Package System for PCM

Alpha-active intermediate level waste (IL W), also know as PCM (Plutonium Contaminated Material) is generated from handling plutonium and other alphaactive materials. Although the quantities of activity often give rise to low radiological and shielding problems (e.g. for transport, up to 15gm of this material is deemed to be non-fissile), criticality is usually a dominant issue, and containment is very important because of the potential hazard from inhilation. The Type-A package limit for Pu239 is about 90mg, so Type B packages are required for the transport of PCM in workable quantities.