Particle Size Determination by ²³⁸Pu UL X-Ray Transmission

Abstract

The possibility of using ²³⁸Pu UL X-ray source to particle size determination by X-ray transmission is investigated. The energy of UL X-rays emitted from ²³⁸Pu by its internal conversion is suitable for the determination of powder materials of various atomic numbers. Since the X-rays are polychromatic, proportionality between logarithm of relative X-ray absorption, ln (I_w/I), and concentration of suspended powder in cell exists approximately in the range of low concentration. The experimental results obtained with the cell of 5 cm X-ray path length and the materials of various atomic numbers show that ln (I_w/I) less than 1.1 at initial uniform suspension would be applied to the determination on cumulative particle weight per cent with the systematic error less than 3%. By taking the initial suspension concentration of 4%, the determination could be applied to the materials of atomic number higher than that of Mg with the error, due to instrumental fluctuation, of less than 3%.