title: Development of a (147)Pm source for beta-backscatter thickness gauge applications.
abstract: This paper describes a method for the preparation of (147)Pm sources, utilized in the determination of graphite coating thickness on the inner surface of the zircaloy cladding tube of nuclear fuels. (147)Pm was adsorbed on a limited surface area [1.5mm (ϕ)×2mm (l)] of a cylindrical aluminum rod [1.5mm (ϕ)×10mm (l)]. In brief, the selected tip area [1.5mm (ϕ)×2mm (l)] was anodized at a current density of 15mA/cm(2) at 15°C in 3M·H(2)SO(4) for 2h followed by immersion of this area in 10μL of (147)Pm solution containing 37MBq (1mCi) of activity at pH 6.0 for 24h. The radioactive area was subsequently covered with a thin layer of Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) to prevent leaching of (147)Pm from the source. The quantity of incorporated (147)Pm activity was assayed in a calibrated ion chamber. Quality control tests were carried out to ensure nonleachability, uniform distribution of activity and stability of the sources.
authors.affiliation: Radiopharmaceuticals Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Radiological Laboratory, Trombay, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Manoj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Udhayakumar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nuwad
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.forename: C G S
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Pillai
authors.forename: Ashutosh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dash
authors.forename: Meera
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venkatesh