The use of solid-state nuclear track detection for the study of boron and fissile nuclide distributions in steel samples

The technique of boron autoradiography using cellulose acetobutyrate (CAB) film for measuring the distribution of boron in stainless steels, is described. The method involves the irradiation of the specimen and detector with thermal neutrons, and the development of the α-particle tracks arising from the nuclear reaction 10B(n, α)7Li. A related technique for the measurement of fissile nuclides in steel hulls, is also described. In this case, a polycarbonate detector, Lexan, is used to detect the fission-particles from the thermal neutron fission of 235U or 239Pu, present in the surfaces of the specimens. The principles of the methods are described, and an outline of the techniques presented. The quantitative aspect of the method is considered and the results on various specimens discussed. (author)