New approaches to porcelain dosimeters for measuring fast neutron fluxes

The induced damage effects of 14.3 Mev neutron fluxes on quartz-based porcelain and alumina-based porcelain were studied using X-ray diffraction analysis and electric resistivity measurements. The results showed that both the degree of crystallinity and the electric resistivity of the samples decreased upon irradiation. Resistivity values plotted as a function of neutron flux proved to fit semi-empirical formulae that could be used for measuring neutron fluxes (1010 to 2 x 1011 n/cm2) in the presence of gamma radiation (up to 5 megarads). Moreover, plots of the area under the X-ray peaks as a function of neutron flux were found to fit empirical formulae which could be used for the same purpose. The effect of storage at temperatures up to 500C and for periods of up to 2 weeks on the radiation induced changes in the porcelain were studied. (author)