Industrial Use of Large Radiation Sources. Proceedings of a Conference on the Application of Large Radiation Sources in Industry. V. I

Energy in the form of ionizing radiation has not yet been accepted by industry for use in large scale manufacturing processes. Among its various applications, such radiation can sometimes be used to obtain a unique product, sometimes to lower the production costs of an existing material. During the past few years considerable research has been carried out on chemical reactions of potential industrial use and already some processes are emerging to form the basis of a radiation chemical industry. More rapidly advancing is the use of radiation for sterilization, where a number of commercial plants are already in operation for the sterilization of surgical goods. The first international scientific meeting on the use of large radiation sources was held in Warsaw in 1959 and was organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Recent progress was discussed at the second IAEA conference on the ''Application of Large Radiation Sources in Industry'' in Salzburg in May, 1963. About 250 scientists from many countries attended the meeting to discuss the 40 papers presented. The papers were considered under three headings: I. Research on applications of potential industrial use; II. Radioisotope power sources; III. Experience, operation and economics. Most of the papers were in the first group and involved a wide variety of subjects. These included synthesis of chemical compounds, copolymerization reactions, possible applications of radiation in the textile industry and radiation-induce d vulcanization of rubber. Much interest was centred on the papers in the third group as, for the first time, actual operating experience with large radiation sources, integrated into a full-scale manufacturing process, could be evaluated. The Proceedings of the conference are now being published by the Agency as ''Industrial uses of large radiation sources'' (Vols. I and II) in the hope that the information made available to industry in general will help to promote greater use of radiation in modern manufacturing processes. The Agency gratefully acknowledges the co-operation of the officials of the City and Province of Salzburg.