NONDESTRUCTIVE ASSAY OF PLUTONIUM FUEL PLATES

Year
1970
Author(s)
J. W. Kormuth - Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation
D. B. James - Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation
Abstract
Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation of Apollo, Pennsylvania recently fabricated 1700 stainless-steel-clad plutonium fuel plates, embracing a total plutonium content of 88.6 Kg for the Japan Power Reactor and Fuel Development Corporation. Since this was to be the first export order of plutonium fuel by a commercial supplier, the transaction carried particular significance with respect to the safeguards and accountability of the special nuclear material. Interest was keen for the development and effective use of a nondestructive assay technique for the fuel plates not only on the part of safeguards officials in the Atomic Energy Commission and in the International Atomic Energy Agency, but also on the part of NUMEC management.