[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Zirconia/Thoria
Afternoon all!
In the course of disposing of some radioactive material, we have had
cause to monitor some 'Zirconia' crucibles. It appears that the
'Zirconia' is mainly Thoria, in that all of the gamma emitting daughters
of Th-232 are present (at a level of ca 3kBq per crucible), along with
some Ra-226 daughters (at a level of ca 1kBq per crucible).
Given that these crucibles are used for high temprature work, presumably
the Rn-220 and Rn-222 will be outgassed at elevated tempratures with the
attendant problems that this may cause, given that the users are
unlikely to be aware of this effect.
Has anyone else come across this particular 'problem'?
Simon Jerome, NPL
smj1@newton.npl.co.uk