Characterization of consistent NDA standards

By combining calorimetry and traditional analytical methods five sets of unique NDA standard were characterized for the Savannah River Plant (SRP) of E.I. duPont de Nemours, Inc. The calorimetry measurements made it possible to nondestructively verify the homogeneity of the plutonia stock and to assure that the analytical aliquouts were representative of the parent material. Two assay values were determined by calorimetric assay. When the isotopic composition was determined by mass spectroscopy and alpha pulse height analysis, the agreement between Pu content by calorimetry and controlled potential calorimetry was within 0.06% for all five isotopic compositions. When nondestructive, gamma-ray isotopic techniques were used to assay the 1500 gram standards the agreement was within 0.1% for all five materials