IAEA-TECDOC-837 Use of neutron beams for low and medium flux research reactors: radiography and materials characterization Report Technicala of Committee meeting held in Vienna, 4-7 May 1993 INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY The originating Sectio f thino s publicatio IAEe th An i was: Physics Section International Atomic Energy Agency Wagramerstrasse 5 0 10 x P.OBo . A-1400 Vienna, Austria USE OF NEUTRON BEAMS FOR LOW AND MEDIUM FLUX RESEARCH REACTORS: RADIOGRAPH MATERIALD YAN S CHARACTERIZATION IAEA, VIENNA, 1995 IAEA-TECDOC-837 ISSN 1011-4289 ©IAEA, 1995 Printe IAEe th AustriAn i y d b a October 1995 FOREWORD Research reactors have been playing an important role in the development of scientific and technological infrastructure and in training of manpower for the introduction of nuclear power in many countries. Currently, there are 284 operational research reactors in the world, includindevelopin9 3 n i 8 g8 g countries numbee th ; f reactoro r developinn si g countries si increasin s morga e countries embar programmen ko nuclean i s r scienc technologyd ean . However, full utilization of these facilities for fundamental and applied research has seldom been achieved. In particular, the utilization of beam ports has been quite low. Neutron beam based researce mosth f t o s regardeimportani he on s a d t research programme carriee sb than dca t out, eve mediud nan witw mhlo flux reactors range Th .f eo activities possibl n thii e s wido s fiel s e i d s generall i tha t i t y feasibl o defint D e R& e programmes suite specifio dt c need conditionsd san therefors i t I . e importan f direco d tan t benefi fino t t d mean solutiond problee san th r sfo f mimprovin o exploitatioe gth f beano m tubes. In an effort to fulfill these requirements, the International Atomic Energy Agency organized two meetings during 1993, i.e. the Advisory Group Meeting on the Use of Research Reactors for Solid State Studies and the Technical Committee Meeting on The Use of Research Reactor Neutron Beams for Radiography and Materials Characterization. The Advisory Group meeting was devoted primarily to reviewing and providing recommendations on better exploitation of various scattering techniques in solid state studies and research, whil Technicae eth l Committee meeting focuse neutron do n radiolog othed yan r neutron beam analytical and inspection methods, which can be used or are already in use for industrial applications, and which are somewhat less demanding in sophistication and cost compared to the majority of neutron scattering methods. presene Th t Technicae reporresule th th f s o i tt l Committee meeting held durin7 g4- May 1993 in Vienna, Austria, and includes contributions from the participants. The Physics Section of the Department of Research and Isotopes was responsible for the co-ordination and compilation of the report. repore Th intendes i t provido dt e guideline researco st h reactor owner operatord san s for promoting and developing then- research programmes and industrial applications for neutron radiology, related neutron inspectio analyticad nan l technique neutrod san n beam irradiation. EDITORIAL NOTE In preparing this publication press,for IAEAthe staffof have pages madethe up from the original manuscripts submittedas authors.the viewsby The expressed necessarilynot do reflect those governmentsofthe nominatingthe of Member States nominating ofthe or organizations. Throughout the text names of Member States are retained as they were when the text was compiled. Theof use particular designations countriesof territoriesor does imply judgementnot any by the publisher, the IAEA, as to the legal status of such countries or territories, of their authorities and institutions or of the delimitation of their boundaries. The mention of names of specific companies productsor (whether indicatednot or registered)as does implyintentionnot any infringeto proprietary rights, should construednor be it an as endorsement or recommendation on the pan of the IAEA. The authors responsibleare havingfor obtained necessarythe permission IAEAthe to for reproduce, translate or use material from sources already protected by copyrights. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT MISSINE TH AL F LO G PAGE THIN SI S DOCUMENT WERE ORIGINALLY BLANK CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................7 . 2. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS ..............................7 . 2.1. Neutron imaging and gaging .............................. 8 2.2. Neutron diffraction ................................... 12 2.3. Neutron induced prompt gamma activation analysis ...............3 1 . 2.4. Neutron beam irradiations, silicon transmutation doping ............4 1 . 3. REQUIREMENTS ......................................5 1 . 3.1. Facilitie equipmend san t ...............................6 1 . 3.2. Manpower requirements ................................ 22 3.3. Financial demands ...................................3 2 . 4. TYPICAL APPLICATIONS AND CURRENT TRENDS ............... 25 4.1. Neutron imaging and gaging .............................. 25 4.2. Neutron diffraction ..................................7 2 . 4.3. PGAA ..........................................7 2 . 4.4. Neutron beam irradiations, silicon transmutation doping ............. 27 5. TRAINING, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION ....... 28 5.1. Impact of training and education ........................... 28 5.2. Regional and international co-operation ....................... 28 5.3. International co-operation ............................... 29 6. CONCLUSION RECOMMENDATIOND SAN POTENTIAR SFO L0 USER3 . .. S 6.1. Neutron imagin gagind gan g .............................0 3 . 6.2. Neutron diffraction ................................... 30 6.3. PGNAA .........................................1 3 . 6.4. Neutron beam irradiations, silicon transmutation doping ............. 31 REFERENCES ........................................... 32 ANNEX: PAPERS PRESENTE TECHNICAE TH T DA L COMMITTEE MEETING Researc industriad han l application neutror sfo n radiography using research reactor7 3 . s /. S. Brenizer, Jr. Review of progress of neutron radiography in Japan .................... 47 K. Kanda Utilization of neutron beams of the Ljubljana TRIGA Mark II reactor .......... 55 . / Rant, . Pregl,G . Glumac,B . RavnicM The neutron radiography facility at the Atominstitut, Vienna ............... 67 N. Ashoub, H. Bock, G. Scherpke Silicon transmutation doping — Beam tube applications .................. 75 K.M. Pytel Introductio Budapese th f no t Neutron Centre ........................3 8 . G. Molnâr Neutron radiography activities at La Reina Nuclear Centre ................ 89 /. Klein List of Participants ........................................ 95 1. INTRODUCTION Worldwide there are 284 operable nuclear research reactors, of which 88 are located developin9 3 n i g numbee countriesth pas , e year n operationaf th so rte o t r r so Fo . l research reactor industrializee th n si d countrie decreasings i s , since several reactors have been shut down due to the accomplished or discontinued research programmes or uneconomical operation differenA . t situation developine existth n si g countries wher numbee eth stils i r l increasing as more countries embark on programmes in nuclear science and technology. However, many research reactors in developing countries are not fully utilized. This is of great concern since these facilities represen significana t t research potential wit hdireca t impac t onl varioun no ty o s aspect developmene th f so nucleaf o t r energ t alsybu o generally economice th n o , technologica educationad an l l progres developinf so g countries. There ear several factors which contribut thio et s situation mose Th . t obvious one consideree sar o dt lace b eadequatf th k o e equipmen laboratoriesd tan , inappropriate research programmes, poor execution of projects, shortage of suitably qualified and trained staff, relatively low neutron fluxes, etc. In particular the experimental neutron beam ports at research reactor facilities are, at present, under utilized. Since the neutron beams can be used for variety of experimental methods, both in fundamental research and for industrial applications, it is very important f direco d tan benefi fino t t d mean solutiond san r improvinsfo g then* exploitation thio T .s endIAEe th , A organize meetingo dtw s during 1993 covering neutron scattering applications neutrod an e non radiographn i materiald yan s characterizatio othere th i nh . The present report summarizes the deliberations and recommendations of the Technical Committee Meeting on the Use of Neutron Beams for Radiography and Materials Characterization repore Th . t includes: • A review of relevant experimental methods, describing the principles of various techniques, thei rcharacteristics d currenan t ar te statth f eo ; • Various requirements relate facilitieso dt , equipment, skilled manpowe financiad an r l demand r successfusfo l applications; • Typical state of the art applications and trends. The papers presented at the meeting are given as an Annex to the report. 2 EXPERIMENTAL METHODS numbee Th f experimentao r l method f reactoo se whicus r e baseneutroe th h ar n do n beam tubes is quite large, and the methods can be classified into the following distinct groups: • Neutron gaging; • Neutron imaging techniques (e.g. neutron radiography (NR), neutron radioscopy, neutron tomograph neutrod yan n based autoradiographic techniques); • Promp capturr o t e gamm bean i y ma ra neutron activation analysis (PGNAA, NCA); • Neutron