Activation of Metal in Reactors: Program Status

In order to properly package and dispose of spent fuel, a complete characterization of the waste stream is necessary. Part of the spent fuel is the structural hardware including end fittings, grid spacers, and guide tubes. This paper presents the results of re search conducted at the Pacific Northwest Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy. The research included obtaining samples of irradiated spent fuel hardware and determining the radionuclide and elemental composition of those samples by laboratory analysis.