Radiation Physics and Chemistry最新文献

{"title":"Gamma irradiation-induced degradation of hexachlorobenzene in methanol: Kinetics, mechanism and dehalogenation pathway","authors":"Samir Karimov ,&nbsp;Elshad Abdullayev ,&nbsp;Muslum Gurbanov ,&nbsp;Lala Gasimzada ,&nbsp;Shabnam Feyziyeva","doi":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112288","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112288","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), a persistent organic pollutant (POP) and organochlorine compound (OCC), poses significant environmental and health risks due to its high stability and solubility in fats, oils, and organic solvents. This study investigates the degradation of HCB in methanol using gamma irradiation with a⁶⁰Co source. A 2 × 10⁻⁴ M solution of HCB in methanol was prepared and irradiated at a dose rate of 1.74 Gy/s. The degradation process was monitored using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), with optimized parameters for effective separation and analysis of byproducts.</div><div>The results demonstrated a 100% degradation of HCB at an absorbed dose of approximately 51 kGy. The degradation pathway involved successive dechlorination, forming various chlorinated benzene (CB) byproducts such as pentachlorobenzene (PCB), tetrachlorobenzenes (TeCB), trichlorobenzenes (TCB), dichlorobenzenes (DCB), and ultimately benzene.</div><div>Ion chromatography (IC) analysis revealed a dose-dependent increase in Cl⁻ concentrations, confirming the efficiency of dechlorination. A chlorine mass balance was performed to evaluate the distribution of chlorine during the degradation process, tracking Cl⁻ ions, CBs, and residual HCB. As the dose increases, the chlorine content in residual HCB decreases significantly, with none remaining at 50.2 kGy and beyond. At 169.5 kGy, nearly all chlorine (99.96%) is unaccounted for, suggesting that it has likely been released as gaseous byproducts, such as Cl₂ or other volatile chlorinated compounds.</div><div>The formation of solvated electrons and hydrogen radicals initiated the dechlorination process, as evidenced by the identified reaction mechanisms. Kinetic analysis indicated that the degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, with a rate constant of 5 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹. The study also outlines a dose-dependent trend in radiation chemical yields (G values), initially increasing to a peak of 7.3 × 10⁻² molecules per 100 eV at 12.6 kGy and subsequently decreasing to as low as 5.4 × 10⁻⁴ at 50.2 kGy.</div><div>This study highlights the effectiveness of gamma irradiation for the complete degradation of HCB in methanol, offering a promising method for the remediation of POPs-contaminated environments. The proposed mechanism and kinetic properties provide a comprehensive understanding of the radiolytic degradation process, paving the way for further applications in environmental cleanup technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20861,"journal":{"name":"Radiation Physics and Chemistry","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 112288"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142417949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the potential utilization of gamma-irradiated waste eggshell powder as oil sorbents in natural rubber foams","authors":"Sutinee Khumsap ,&nbsp;Nattharika Parapichai ,&nbsp;Pattra Lertsarawut ,&nbsp;Kiadtisak Saenboonruang","doi":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112287","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112287","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A simple, green approach was developed to enhance the oil adsorption capacity of waste eggshell (WES) powder using gamma irradiation, with varying doses (0–10 kGy). Relevant properties (chemical composition, functional group, particle size, pore characteristics, thermal stability, morphology, and oil adsorption) of both non-irradiated and gamma-irradiated WES powders were determined and reported. The results indicated that gamma irradiation did not alter most properties of the WES powder, except for the pore characteristics and oil adsorption. Specifically, the WES powders irradiated with doses of 2 kGy and 10 kGy had substantially improved adsorption capabilities for engine oil and diesel, respectively, exhibiting approximately threefold enhancements compared to the non-irradiated ones. The suitable gamma-irradiated WES powder obtained from the first part was then incorporated into natural rubber foam (NRF) samples, with varying contents of 0–9 parts per hundred rubber (phr). Their respective properties, consisting of functional group, thermal stability, morphology, density, pore characteristics, and oil adsorption, were subsequently determined. The main findings revealed that the addition of 3–6 phr of gamma-irradiated WES powder increased the densities and oil adsorption capacities of the NRF/WES samples for both engine oil and diesel in comparison to those of neat NRF, while negligibly affecting other properties. The outcomes from this work suggested that gamma-irradiated WES powder not only improved the intended oil adsorption capacity of the NRF samples but also paved the way for alternative, greener approaches to replace the harmful chemical or energy-consuming procedures typically required for the modification/synthesis of similar substances or materials through gamma irradiation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20861,"journal":{"name":"Radiation Physics and Chemistry","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 112287"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142417950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modification of microstructure, optical, and electrical properties in 180 keV Co and Fe implanted Al1.5Ga0.5O3 thin-films","authors":"C.B. Nettar ,&nbsp;R.N. Bhowmik ,&nbsp;K. Devarani Devi ,&nbsp;R.C. Meena ,&nbsp;K. Asokan","doi":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112275","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112275","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We report the microstructure, optical and electrical properties of Al_1.5Ga_0.5O₃ thin films implanted by 180 keV Fe and Co ions. The X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed rhombohedral structure with R <span><math><mrow><mover><mn>3</mn><mo>‾</mo></mover></mrow></math></span> c space group for pristine and Fe-implanted films. The Co-implanted films showed amorphous structure. SRIM simulations suggested oxygen vacancy in the films. The atomic force microscopy confirmed the formation of spherical-shaped particles (17–20 nm) in Co-implanted GaAlO_Si_550 films. The RMS roughness of the GaAlO_Si_550 films increased from 19 nm to 25 nm at higher Co-ion implantation fluences. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy supported the formation of oxygen vacancy and non-stoichiometry at surface of the films. Electrical conductivity of the films enhanced up to 10⁻²- 10⁻³ S/m by metallic Fe- and Co ion implantation. Optical band gap was found at ∼3.85 eV for GaAlO_Al_550 and ∼4.04 eV for GaAlO_Si_550 pristine films. Optical band gap was stabilized in the range of 3.75–4.52 eV for Fe- and Co-implanted films, which can be useful for opto-electronic device applications in the UV and deep blue region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20861,"journal":{"name":"Radiation Physics and Chemistry","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 112275"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142437719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel 3D polymer gel dosimeter based on polymethyl methacrylate gel (PMMAG) for radiotherapy: Ultrasonic evaluation","authors":"Mohammed Dawood Salman ,&nbsp;Yasmin Md Radzi ,&nbsp;Azhar Abdul Rahman ,&nbsp;Ammar A. Oglat","doi":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112286","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112286","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the characteristics of a novel polymer gel dosimeter (PMMAG) for radiotherapy applications, focusing on its radiation absorption and sensitivity properties. The PMMAG dosimeters were evaluated using both UV–vis spectrophotometry and ultrasonic techniques. The results of the study, UV–vis analysis revealed a significant increase in dose response with the introduction of a cross-linker, peaking at a monomer-to-cross-linker ratio of 5:3. Sensitivity analysis indicated optimal sensitivity at this ratio, with values reaching 0.021 a.u./Gy. Ultrasound evaluation showed that the speed of sound and attenuation coefficient demonstrated a linear relationship and a strong positive correlation with an increase in the applied radiation dose, with the highest sensitivity observed at 8 Gy. The optimal sample exhibited the highest dose-response values at both 4 Gy and 8 Gy doses. Sensitivity values ranged from 2.1 to 2.75. The ultrasonic measurements demonstrated a significantly larger dynamic range in dose response curves compared to UV–vis dose-response data. It is concluded that ultrasound shows great potential as a technique for the evaluation of polymer gel dosimeters. The PMMAG can be introduced as a novel dosimeter for ionizing radiation dosimetry, validated through both optical and ultrasound assessment methods. The consistent and reliable performance of the PMMAG dosimeters makes them suitable for various applications in radiation therapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20861,"journal":{"name":"Radiation Physics and Chemistry","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 112286"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142417951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elucidation of radiation-induced molecular fragmentation in triphenylmethane aromatic dye using mass spectrometric tool","authors":"Mamoun S.M. Abd El-kareem ,&nbsp;A.M. Abdelhady ,&nbsp;Elsayed K. Elmaghraby ,&nbsp;Saad Abdelaal ,&nbsp;Hatem Hussny Tokhy","doi":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112284","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112284","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the potential of triphenylmethane dye as a gamma radiation dosimeter using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) through detection of radiation-induced derivatives produced at low concentrations in the irradiated material. Pristine triphenylmethane established a reference baseline for the dye’s dosimetric properties to establish a differentiated signature of the radiation-synthesized derivatives. The two key radiation-induced derivatives identified and quantified in the present work were <em>2-Propanone,1,1-diphenyl-</em> and diphenylcarbinol <em>Benzenemethanol</em>, <span><math><mi>α</mi></math></span>, <span><math><mi>α</mi></math></span>-<em>diphenyl-</em> which was found in trace amounts in pristine material due to possible natural chemical or radiation processes. Gamma irradiation significantly accelerates their formation in which their relative concentration increases linearly with increasing radiation dose up to 100 kGy. Unavoidable radiation-induced synthesis of low-mass radiation fragments was observed at higher gas chromatography retention time; and also exhibit a linear increase with dose within the investigated range.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20861,"journal":{"name":"Radiation Physics and Chemistry","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 112284"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142441011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detailed investigation of mechanical and gamma-ray shielding capabilities of zinc, bismuth, and niobium-doped Tellurite glasses","authors":"N. Almousa ,&nbsp;Shams A.M. Issa ,&nbsp;N.T. El-Shamy ,&nbsp;Ahmed H. Ali ,&nbsp;Hesham M.H. Zakaly","doi":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112283","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112283","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents a comprehensive examination of the glass systems consisting of TeO₂, ZnO, Bi₂O₃, and Nb₂O₅. The objective is to assess their suitability as radiation shielding materials and analyze their mechanical characteristics. Analysis of TZBN1's mass attenuation coefficients (MAC) was conducted using FLUKA modeling and XCOM. The findings indicated that TZBN1 had the highest Mean Absolute Change (MAC) at low energy levels (0.02 MeV), measured 38.547 cm²/g. These findings suggest that TZBN1 has a more favorable photoelectric effect interaction. Over energies beyond 20 MeV, TZBN4 has exceptional performance in comparison to other samples, with a mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) of 0.043996 cm²/g. These findings suggest an improved capacity to provide protection against high-energy photons. The density of the glass substrates is an essential factor, and TZBN4 exhibits a peak density of 6.15 g/cm³. Consequently, it exhibits a reduced gamma-ray transmission factor (TF), thereby underscoring its efficacy in mitigating gamma radiation. Based on the Makishima and Mackenzie model, TZBN1 exhibits the greatest Young's Modulus, measured at around 814.67 kJ/mol per PD. These findings suggest that TZBN1 exhibits the highest level of mechanical strength and stiffness among the glasses examined. In contrast, TZBN4 exhibits the lowest Young's Modulus of 453.47 kJ/mol per PD, making it potentially appropriate for certain applications that need flexibility. The results underscore the importance of glass chemical composition in tailoring materials for radiation protection and mechanical robustness. The glasses composed of TeO₂, ZnO, Bi₂O₃, and Nb₂O₅, namely TZBN4, are regarded as very promising for applications that need efficient shielding against high-energy photons, while also providing material flexibility and strength. This paper presents a substantial framework for selecting and creating glass materials for the goal of providing safe shielding in the domains of medicine, industry, and nuclear facilities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20861,"journal":{"name":"Radiation Physics and Chemistry","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 112283"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficient synthesis of conjugated 2-(9H-fluoren-7-yl)-9H-fluorene via Br elimination in 2-bromofluorene using electron beam-irradiation","authors":"Seung-Hwan Oh,&nbsp;Hyun Bin Kim,&nbsp;Jin-Mun Yun,&nbsp;Huisu Kim,&nbsp;Byungnam Kim,&nbsp;Jong-Seok Park","doi":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112285","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112285","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study demonstrates the synthesis of conjugated 2-(9H-fluoren-7-yl)-9H-fluorene using electron beam irradiation within 3 min in place of the conventional catalytic cross-coupling reactions. 2-bromofluorene was irradiated at various doses (10, 30, 50, 70, 90, and 100 kGy), resulting in the elimination of Br from the 2-position and the formation of C–C bonds between the Br-eliminated fluorenes. The yield of 2-(9H-fluoren-7-yl)-9H-fluorene increased with higher absorbed doses, reaching 65% at 100 kGy. <u>UV–Vis absorption of synthesized 2-(9H-fluoren-7-yl)-9H-fluorene showed an onset at 357 nm and a maximum absorption peak at 325 nm, and blue emission ranging from 340 to 450 nm in photoluminescence (PL).</u> The results of UV–Vis absorption and PL indicated expanded conjugation of 2-(9H-fluoren-7-yl)-9H-fluorene due to the formation of C–C bonds between 2-bromofluorene through the electron beam-induced coupling reaction. Electron beam irradiation offers the potential to significantly reduce the reaction times for synthesis of conjugated organic compounds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20861,"journal":{"name":"Radiation Physics and Chemistry","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 112285"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142437721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gamma absorption and radiation shielding properties of apatite-wollastonite containing SiO2, Fe2O3, and TiO2","authors":"Zainab Mufarreh Elqahtani ,&nbsp;Z.A. Alrowaili ,&nbsp;Norah Salem Alsaiari ,&nbsp;Marzoqa M. Alnairi ,&nbsp;I.O. Olarinoye ,&nbsp;M.S. Al-Buriahi","doi":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112282","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112282","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research presents the gamma interaction parameters of glass-ceramics with the apatite-wollastonite (AW) crystal structure within the SiO₂–CaO–Al₂O₃–MgO–P₂O₅–CaF₂ glass (AW) doped with 10% SiO₂ (AW-10Si), Fe₂O₃ (AW-10Fe), and TiO₂ (AW-10Ti) by weight. The density of the glass ceramics was determined based on the Archimedes method while the mass attenuation coefficients (MACs) of the glasses were estimated using the PHITS simulation code for gamma photons within the 15 keV-15MeV energies. The obtained densities of AW, AW-10Si, AW-10Ti, and AW-10Fe are 2.90, 2.92, 2.91, and 3.05 g/cm³, respectively. The linear attenuation coefficients of the glasses followed the order <span><math><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>L</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>W</mi></mrow></msub><mo>&lt;</mo><msub><mrow><mi>L</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>W</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>10</mn><mi>S</mi><mi>i</mi></mrow></msub><mo>&lt;</mo><msub><mrow><mi>L</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>W</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>10</mn><mi>T</mi><mi>i</mi></mrow></msub><mo>&lt;</mo><msub><mrow><mi>L</mi><mi>A</mi><mi>C</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>W</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>10</mn><mi>F</mi><mi>e</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></math></span>. The addition of the metal oxides improves the attenuation coefficients of AW. A gradual increase in the HVLs was observed as the glass density decreased. AW-10Fe has the best photon absorption and scattering interaction cross-sections among the investigated glasses. This study showed that AW-<em>x</em> glasses are nontoxic, cheaper, environmentally friendly, and effective shields compared to some commercial and recently researched shielding glasses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20861,"journal":{"name":"Radiation Physics and Chemistry","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 112282"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142417952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gd3+ doped Na2O-CaO-P2O5-B2O3-ZrO2 glass ceramics for γ-ray radiation dose detection","authors":"Yingtao Fu ,&nbsp;Zhaoyang Chen ,&nbsp;Yifan Sun ,&nbsp;Zuyang Gao ,&nbsp;Siping Wang ,&nbsp;Yi Liu ,&nbsp;Yanwei Fan ,&nbsp;Junhua Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112280","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112280","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, Gd³⁺-doped NCPBZ glass-ceramics were prepared using melt-quenching technique, and their radiation dose performance was investigated. By varying the concentration of Gd³⁺ ions, we found that the sample with 0.5 mol% concentration exhibited the strongest luminescence and the best optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) intensity. Therefore, further OSL related tests were conducted on samples with this concentration under different doses. The results showed that the continuous wave OSL dose response fitting value of the sample in the range of 0.1–1000 Gy was m = 0.928, which is close to 1, while R² was 0.9992 in the range of 50–1000 Gy, indicating better linearity. Meanwhile, the relative standard deviation of the OSL intensity for the sample's ten-cycle tests was 1.5%. The Gd³⁺-doped NaCaPO₄ microcrystalline glass studied here is expected to have broad application prospects in wide-range linear radiation dose monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20861,"journal":{"name":"Radiation Physics and Chemistry","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 112280"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142418019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Measuring very low radiation doses in PTFE for nuclear forensic enrichment reconstruction","authors":"Rachel C. Connick ,&nbsp;Charles A. Hirst ,&nbsp;Kevin B. Woller ,&nbsp;Avery K. Nguyen ,&nbsp;Julie V. Logan ,&nbsp;R. Scott Kemp ,&nbsp;Michael P. Short","doi":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112256","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112256","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Every country that has made nuclear weapons has used uranium enrichment to do so. Despite the centrality of this technology to international security, there is still no reliable physical marker of past enrichment in the open literature that can be used to perform forensic verification of historically produced weapons on gas centrifuges. We show that the extremely low radioactivity from uranium alpha emissions during enrichment leaves detectable and irreversible calorimetric signatures in the common enrichment gasket material PTFE, allowing for historical reconstruction of past enrichment activities at a sensitivity better than one weapon's quantity of highly enriched uranium. Fast scanning calorimetry also enables the measurement of recrystallization enthalpies of sequentially microtomed slices, confirming the magnitude and the type of radiation exposure while also providing detection of tampering and a method for analyzing field samples useful for treaty verification. This work opens the door for common items to be turned into precise dosimeters to detect the past presence of radioactivity, nuclear materials, and related activities with high confidence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20861,"journal":{"name":"Radiation Physics and Chemistry","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 112256"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142417953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}