Neutron activation determination of the oxygen factor for high temperature superconducting materials

Due to its precision and sensitivity, activation analysis can be applied in investigating the composition of high temperature superconducting materials (HTSC) including determination of the oxygen factor. When activation is ensured with fast neutrons, it is expedient that the oxygen factor be determined by the ratio of oxygen to one of the elements of the matrix. In case of yttrium-based ceramics the analytical parameter is chosen in the form of a ratio of activities due to oxygen and yttrium. Other types of HTSCs were analyzed in terms of O/Cu ratio. The relative standard deviation ranged from 0.3 to 0.5% for O/Y and O/Cu ratios for 10 replicte analyses of the sample. (author) 3 refs.; 3 figs.; 3 tabs