The U.S. Department of Energy 252Cf program

Soon after the discovery of the 252Cf radioisotope in 1952, researchers realized its potential as a spontaneous source of neutrons. Under the guidance of the Atomic Energy Commission, the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) undertook an ambitious market evaluation and source fabrication program in the 1960s. Routine production of 252Cf was initiated at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), initially from plutonium oxide target rods and ultimately from more productive recycle curium oxide target rods. The 252Cf radioisotope was then shipped to SRL for incorporation into a variety of SRL-designed sources for industrial, medical, and research applications. ORNL independently developed another line of sources, primarily for research applications. Industrial source fabrication operations were consolidated at ORNL in 1986. In 1992, SRL fabricated its last 252Cf sources. Today, most of the world's supply of 252Cf is processed, purified, and encapsulated for shipment at the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center (REDC) of ORNL