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Proud Mary

Tue Dec 21 2010, 11:22AM

Registered Member #543 Joined: Tue Feb 20 2007, 04:26PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4992

Patrick wrote ...

Proud Mary wrote ...

The perky 0MeV94 betas emitted by 90Sr decay product 90Y are the ones to watch out for, the fiendish little beasts!

I wouldn't keep 14Ci of 90Sr anywhere around my house! There's no keeping company with it!

too many curies = not many years to live.

Or as the old axiom has it, too many Curies spoil the broth...

dmg

Tue Dec 21 2010, 01:29PM

Registered Member #2628 Joined: Fri Jan 15 2010, 12:23AM
Location:
Posts: 627

Since this stuff is a beta-emitter, I was planning on keeping it inside a 3/8" steel box I had around.
I dont have any lead, but I dont think it will be nessasary to use lead.

For what im going to be doing with it, as ive said, 0.1uC should do for now.

Patrick

Wed Dec 22 2010, 07:58AM

Registered Member #2431 Joined: Tue Oct 13 2009, 09:47PM
Location: Chico, CA. USA
Posts: 5639

Gatedbreakdown wrote ...

Since this stuff is a beta-emitter, I was planning on keeping it inside a 3/8" steel box I had around.
I dont have any lead, but I dont think it will be nessasary to use lead.

kinda worry from what ive recently looked at, as a nuclear isomer Americium has a bad habit of irradiating other metallic elements. given small quantities less that 10uC, 3/8" steel is ok but definatley no more then that till we can be sure you wont cause unwanted transmuted elements in you steel case.

Gatedbreakdown wrote ...

For what im going to be doing with it, as ive said, 0.1uC should do for now.

i think this will be the most you get or at least <1uC, as 241Am, 242Am, 243Am are all very expensive supposesedly due to production difficulty. From several tons of uranium (for < 100g Am), then difficult refinement, its pretty valuable as it has many uses in private industry.

IntraWinding

Wed Dec 22 2010, 06:41PM

Registered Member #2261 Joined: Mon Aug 03 2009, 01:19AM
Location: London, UK
Posts: 581

I thought only Neutrons made other material radioactive, not Beta or Alpha?

Proud Mary

Wed Dec 22 2010, 07:25PM

Registered Member #543 Joined: Tue Feb 20 2007, 04:26PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4992

IntraWinding wrote ...

I thought only Neutrons made other material radioactive, not Beta or Alpha?

The emission of neutrons when beryllium is bombarded with alpha particles is one of the most famous alpha transmutations, Alan, but argon, chlorine, scandium, aluminium, titanium, manganese and iron will all emit neutrons under alpha bombardment, see:

Pollard et al
Physical Review Vol 53 March 1 1938
Emission of neutrons from argon, chlorine, aluminium and some heavier elements under alpha bomardment.

But things aren't made radioactive by bombardment with betas - i.e. electrons.

Patrick

Wed Dec 22 2010, 08:50PM

Registered Member #2431 Joined: Tue Oct 13 2009, 09:47PM
Location: Chico, CA. USA
Posts: 5639

i always worry about putting incompatible materials near each other and unwanted side-reactions.

i could be wrong, maybe even a safety pansy, but i didnt want him or anyone else getting injured/killed based on what i said. i am a bit rusty on nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry.

Proud Mary

Wed Dec 22 2010, 09:01PM

Registered Member #543 Joined: Tue Feb 20 2007, 04:26PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4992

Patrick wrote ...

i always worry about putting incompatible materials near each other and unwanted side-reactions.

i could be wrong, maybe even a safety pansy, but i didnt want him or anyone else getting injured/killed based on what i said. i am a bit rusty on nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry.

You are very right to urge caution, Patrick, and it is far better to err on the side of caution than invite misfortune that might spread beyond an initial accident into laws and regulations that could bring our passtimes to an end.

Some here will recall the so-called 'Hand of Glory' case - the X-ray burns and necrosis to the hand of a Russian youth who built his own X-ray machine and assured everyone that he knew what he was doing:

dmg

Wed Dec 22 2010, 09:17PM

Registered Member #2628 Joined: Fri Jan 15 2010, 12:23AM
Location:
Posts: 627

yeah, Id rather keep attention away and be as passive as possible about having this stuff.
not to mention I would not want any damage done to others or myself just for having it stored or used.
is there any more precautions and advice you might be willing to share?

I have not ordered some yet, but am making preperations for storage when I do.

Patrick

Wed Dec 22 2010, 10:33PM

Registered Member #2431 Joined: Tue Oct 13 2009, 09:47PM
Location: Chico, CA. USA
Posts: 5639

lead was reccomended by SpecTech and thats what ive used, in the past.

Adam Munich

Thu Dec 23 2010, 12:20AM

Registered Member #2893 Joined: Tue Jun 01 2010, 09:25PM
Location: Cali-forn. i. a.
Posts: 2242

There's still the matter of robbing the nuclear laboratory. I don't think spectec's going to sell you several curies of strontium-90.

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