[ RadSafe ] IBIS Sr-90 source construction

[Franz Schönhofer]

Hi all,

A little chemistry for Radsafe.

Strontium is a silvery metal and a typical earthalkali element. It is 
produced by reducing strontium oxide with aluminium powder at high S. 
Because of its norm potential of -2,89 V it is not possible to electroplate 
it from an aqueous solution of strontium salts. It is rather reactive and 
reacts easily with water to form strontium hydroxide and hydrogen. It burns 
when ignited. Strontium salts show when heated in a flame a beautiful 
karmin-red colour, which is  used in fireworks.

Sr-90 is used in many technical applications, but it should be noticed that 
in many applications the much harder beta radiation of its shortlived 
daugther radionuclide Y-90 (in equilibrium) is actually the "active 
ingredient". The same is true for the health effects. As well it should not 
be forgotten that also bremsstrahlung (what a nice english word!) should not 
be neglected. Remember the russian forest workers who unknowingly found a 
well shielded electricity generator based on a Sr-90 battery in winter and 
sat on it because it was warm.

After having read the message on Radsafe I thought that maybe we should not 
be so harsh with some anti-nuclear agitators because they simply have not 
the appropriate education. But I discarded this thought quickly, because 
these people believe really that they or their stars posess the truth and 
nothing but the truth and anyone who does not share their opinion is stupid, 
a massmurderer and a criminal. Contrary to this attitude Brad wrote "I 
believe"!

Best regards,

Franz


-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- 
From: Ted de Castro  Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2016 5:43 AM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List - 
theSubject: Re: [ RadSafe ] IBIS Sr-90 source construction
>From what I read on a Google search - the material is a dispersible powder.

On 5/24/2016 6:26 PM, Brad Keck wrote:
> Hi Brian,
>
> I believe these are electroplated sources, so at the surface of the metal 
> (stainless steel usually in sources) a thin coat of strontium will be 
> reduced to it’s metallic form.
>
> It is important of course that the strontium “plate” be very thin so that 
> beta emissions are unshielded in the direction of the detector….
>
> Hope this helps..
>
> Brad
>
>
>
>
>> On May 24, 2016, at 5:04 PM, Rees, Brian G<brees at lanl.gov>  wrote:
>>
>> Does anybody on the list know the physical form of Sr-90 sources used in 
>> helicopter blade pressure indicators?
>>
>> Specifically, is it strontium titanate, or some other material with a low 
>> solubility?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Brian Rees
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