PLUTONIUM ASSAY FOR SAFEGUARDS PURPOSES: MATERIAL HETEROGENEITY AND THE APPLICATION OF CALORIMETRY

Year
1996
Author(s)
R.J. LeMaire, - International Atomic Energy Agency
T.L. Welsh - Westinghouse Hanford Company
C.H. Delegard - Westinghouse Hanford Company
R.A. Hamilton, - Westinghouse Hanford Company
E.S. Baker - Westinghouse Hanford Company
D.M. Fazzari - Westinghouse Hanford Company
L.P. McRae - Westinghouse Hanford Company
P.–M. De Ridder - International Atomic Energy Agency
Abstract
Quantitative assays of plutonium materials are required for plant operations and domestic and international nuclear material accounting. These assays have typically been made using destructive analysis techniques (weighing and chemical and isotopic concentration measurements). However, nondestructive assay techniques based on combined gamma isotopic and calorimeter measurements have appeal because they are rapid (compared with sampling and destructive analysis), accurate, and materials and were lower for heterogeneous scrap.