Standard Test Method for Measuring Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Neptunium-237

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers procedures for measuring reaction rates by assaying a fission product (F.P.) from the fission reaction  237 Np(n,f)F.P.  
1.2 The reaction is useful for measuring neutrons with energies from approximately 0.7 to 6 MeV and for irradiation times up to 30 to 40 years.  
1.3 Equivalent fission neutron fluence rates as defined in Practice E261 can be determined.  
1.4 Detailed procedures for other fast-neutron detectors are referenced in Practice E261.  
1.5  This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

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Status
Historical
Publication Date
09-Jan-1996
Current Stage
Ref Project

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ASTM E705-96(2002) - Standard Test Method for Measuring Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Neptunium-237
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:E705–96 (Reapproved 2002)
Standard Test Method for
Measuring Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Neptunium-
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E705; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope for Reactor Vessel Surveillance, E706 (IID)
E704 Test Method for Measuring Reaction Rates by Ra-
1.1 This test method covers procedures for measuring reac-
dioactivation of Uranium-238
tion rates by assaying a fission product (F.P.) from the fission
E844 Guide for Sensor Set Design and Irradiation for
reaction Np(n,f)F.P.
Reactor Surveillance, E706 (IIC)
1.2 The reaction is useful for measuring neutrons with
E944 Guide for Application of Neutron Spectrum Adjust-
energies from approximately 0.7 to 6 MeV and for irradiation
ment Methods in Reactor Surveillance, (IIA)
times up to 30 to 40 years.
E1005 TestMethodforApplicationandAnalysisofRadio-
1.3 Equivalent fission neutron fluence rates as defined in
metric Monitors for Reactor Vessel Surveillance, E706
Practice E261 can be determined.
(IIIA)
1.4 Detailed procedures for other fast-neutron detectors are
E1018 Guide for Application of ASTM Evaluated Cross
referenced in Practice E261.
Section Data File, Matrix E706 (IIB)
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3. Terminology
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1 Definitions:
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1.1 Refer to Terminology E170.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4. Summary of Test Method
2. Referenced Documents
4.1 High-purity Np (<40 ppm fissionable impurity) is
2.1 ASTM Standards:
irradiatedinafast-neutronfield,therebyproducingradioactive
E170 Terminology Relating to Radiation Measurements
2 fission products from the reaction Np(n,f)F.P.
and Dosimetry
137 137m 1140
4.2 Various fission products such as Cs- Ba, Ba-
E181 Test Methods for Detector Calibration and Analysis
140 95 144
2 La, Zr,and Cecanbeassayeddependingonthelength
of Radionuclides
of irradiation, purpose of the experiment, etc.
E261 Practice for Determining Neutron Fluence Rate, Flu-
2 4.3 The gamma rays emitted through radioactive decay are
ence, and Spectra by Radioactivation Techniques
counted and the reaction rate, as defined in Practice E261, is
E262 Test Method for Determining Thermal Neutron Re-
2 calculated from the decay rate and the irradiation conditions.
action and Fluence Rates by Radioactivation Techniques
4.4 Theneutronfluencerateforneutronswithenergiesfrom
E320 Test Methods for Cesium-137 in Nuclear Fuel Solu-
2 approximately 0.7 to 6 MeV can then be calculated from the
tions by Radiochemical Analysis
spectral-weightedneutronactivationcrosssectionasdefinedin
E393 TestMethodforMeasuringReactionRatesbyAnaly-
2 Practice E261.
sis of Barium-140 from Fission Dosimeters
238 237
4.5 Aparallel procedure that uses U instead of Np is
E482 Guide forApplication of NeutronTransport Methods
given in Test Method E704.
5. Significance and Use
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE10onNuclear
Technology and Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
5.1 Refer to Practice E261 for a general discussion of the
E10.05 on Nuclear Radiation Metrology.
determination of fast-neutron fluence rate with fission detec-
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 1996. Published March 1996. Originally
tors.
published as E705–79. Last previous edition E705–90.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 12.02.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E705
TABLE 2 Recommended Fission Yields for Certain Fission
5.2 Np is available as metal foil, wire, or oxide powder.
A
Products
For further information, see Guide E844. It is usually encap-
B,A
Fissile Neutron Reaction Type ENDF/B-VI
sulated in a suitable container to prevent loss of, and contami-
Isotope Energy Product Yield Fission Yield (%)
237 3
nation by, the Np and its fission products.
237 95
Np(n,f) 0.5 MeV Zr RC 5.68896 6 2.8 %
5.3 One or more fission products can be assayed. Pertinent
Mo RC 6.11547 64%
dataforrelevantfissionproductsaregiveninTable1andTable
Ru RC 5.56212 6 2.8 %
2. Cs RC 6.16977 6 2.8 %
137m
137 137m
Ba RI 1.438e-5 6 64 %
5.3.1 Cs- Ba is chosen frequently for long irradia-
Ba RC 6.17171 62%
134 136
tions. Radioactive products Cs and Cs may be present,
La RI 4.421e-5 6 64 %
Ce RC 4.12987 62%
which can interfere with the counting of the 0.662 MeV
137 137m
A
Cs- Ba gamma ray (see Test Methods E320). England, T. R., and Rider, B. F., ENDF-349 Evaluation and Compilation of
140 140
Fission Product Yields, LosAlamos National Laboratory, LosAlamos, NM, report
5.3.2 Ba- La is chosen frequently for short irradiations
LA-UR-94-3106, ENDF-349, October 1994.
(see Test Method E393). B
Allyielddatagivenasa%;RCrepresentsacumulativeyield;RIrepresentsan
independent yield.
5.3.3 Zr can be counted directly, following chemical
separation, or with its daughter Nb, using a high-resolution
gamma detector system.
144 5.5 Good agreement between neutron fluence measured by
5.3.4 Ceisahigh-yieldfissionproductapplicableto2-to
237 54 54
Np fission and the Fe(n,p) Mn reaction has been dem-
3-year irradiations.
onstrated (2). The reaction Np(n,f) F.P. is useful since it is
5.4 It is necessary to surround the Np monitor with a
responsive to a broader range of neutron energies than most
thermal neutron absorber to minimize fission product produc-
threshold detectors.
tion from trace quantities of fissionable nuclides in the Np
238 238 5.6 The Np fission neutron spectrum-averaged cross
target and from Np and Pu from (n,g) reactions in the
section in several benchmark neutron fields are given in Table
237 238 239
Np material. Assay of Pu and Pu concentration is
3 of Practice E261. Sources for the latest recommended cross
recommended when a significant contribution is expected.
sections are given in Guide E1018. In the case of the
5.4.1 Fission product production in a light-water reactor by
238 238 Np(n,f)F.P. reaction, the recommended cross section source
neutron activation products Np and Pu has been calcu-
is the ENDF/B-VI cross section (MAT=9346) revision 1 (3).
lated to be insignificant (1.2%), compared to that from
237 Fig. 1 shows a plot of the recommended cross section versus
Np(n,f), for an irradiation period of 12 years at a fast
11 −2 −1 neutron energy for the fast-neutron reaction Np(n,f)F.P.
neutron (E > 1 MeV) fluence rate of 1 310 cm ·s ,
providedthe Npisshieldedfromthermalneutrons(seeFig.
6. Apparatus
2 of Guide E844).
6.1 Gamma-Ray Detection Equipment that can be used to
5.4.2 Fission product production from photonuclear reac-
accuratelymeasurethedecayrateoffissionproductactivityare
tions, that is, (g,f) reactions, while negligible near-power and
the following two types (4):
researchreactor cores, can be large for deep-water penetrations
4 6.1.1 NaI(T1) Gamma-Ray Scintillation Spectrometer (see
(1).
Test Methods E181 and E1005).
6.1.2 Germanium Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (see Test
Methods E181 and E1005)—Because of its high resolution,
Vanadium-encapsulated monitors of high purity are available from the Isotope
the germanium detector is useful when contaminant activities
Sales Div., Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
are present.
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references appended to
this test method. 6.2 Balance, providing the accuracy and precision required
by the experiment.
TABLE 1 Recommended Nuclear Parameters
...

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