Applications of neutron induced particle tracks for materials analysis

Neutron induced particle track mapping can be used to detect, quantitate and map distributions of B, Li, U and N in a wide variety of samples. Detection limits for this study are better than 1x10-11 g/g for U, 1x10-9 g/g for B, 1x10-6 g/g for Li and 0.1 wt% for N. Spatial resolution for mapping is about 25 μm. NBS steels of known B content can be used as N standards for B in many similar alloys, N-containing polymers can be used as N standards for some applications. Alpha particle tracks from rare isotopes of 0 and S might have some specialized applications as tracers. (author) 5 refs.; 10 figs.; 1 tab