Application of neutron induced radiography technique in determination of boron in aluminium

The technique of Neutron Induced Radiography has been applied to determine boron concentration and its spatial distribution in aluminium using Allyl diglycol carbonate (CR-39) detectors. The technique is based upon the simultaneous irradiation of sample and a standard fixed on a track detector with thermal neutrons and the counting of alpha and /sup 7/Li tracks produced in the detector from the nuclear reaction /sup 10/B(n,α)/sup 7/Li after chemical etching. Boron concentration is determined by comparing the /sup 7/Li and alpha particle tracks density with that of a standard of known boron concentration. Boron concentration in aluminium has been found to be (135.8 ±0.7) ppm in this study which is on the higher side within the normal range reported in the literature. The technique of boron determination by Neutron Induced Radiography is a simple and reliable. It can be used to study the other α-emitting radionuclides in minerals and other materials. (author)