SIMS imaging analyses of in-reactor irradiated boron carbide control rod samples

The relative radial burnup of the isotope 10B in an absorber rod has been determined by cross-sectional imaging analysis using a shielded secondary ion mass-spectrometer (SIMS). Two-dimensional secondary ion images of the specimen cross-section were recorded. The count rates of the burnable isotope 10B were normalised with the count rates of the non-burnable isotope 11B. The relative radial burnup of the isotope 10B was calculated and graphically plotted in the form of 2D-images and vector diagrams