scholarly journals Microbeam Analysis of Irradiated Materials: Practical Aspects

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 150-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jérôme Lamontagne ◽  
Thierry Blay ◽  
Ingrid Roure
Keyword(s):  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Present Article ◽  
Nuclear Fuel ◽  
Electron Probe Microanalysis ◽  
Electron Probe ◽  
Microbeam Analysis ◽  
Radioactive Background ◽  
Irradiated Fuel

Among the microanalytical techniques, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) is one of the most powerful. Its performances can be used to provide an accurate characterization. In the present article the differences between the EPMA of highly irradiated materials and standard EPMA are highlighted. It focuses on the shielded EPMA specificities. Then, the article presents the difficulties encountered during the sample preparation and the analysis (mainly due to the radioactive background). In spite of these difficulties, some valuable results can be provided by a shielded EPMA on the in-pile behavior of nuclear irradiated fuel. Some results of specific examples analyzed by EPMA in nuclear fuel research are presented.

scholarly journals DETERMINATION OF IODINE CONCENTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION IN RAT THYROID FOLLICLES BY ELECTRON-PROBE MICROANALYSIS

1969 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
William L. Robison ◽  
David Davis
Keyword(s):  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Electron Probe Microanalysis ◽  
Electron Probe ◽  
Freeze Drying ◽  
Iodine Concentration ◽  
Sodium Concentration ◽  
Thyroid Glands ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Rat Thyroid

The concentration and the distribution of iodine in various sized follicles of rat thyroid glands have been analyzed by electron-probe microanalysis. The results of the iodine analysis were grouped according to uncorrected lumen diameter size. No significant differences in iodine concentration were observed among the various size categories. When the results for all follicles from a given sample were pooled, the standard error of the mean was approximately 4%. Usually 40–50 follicles per animal were analyzed. The concentration of iodine ranged from 0.9 to 2.1% by weight among individual animals. Scanning pictures and step-scan analysis showed the iodine distribution to be quite uniform across the colloid area. Several techniques of sample preparation were used; they produced no significant differences in the iodine concentrations observed. Sodium concentration, also determined in all samples, was found to vary from 2 to 9% by weight. Because of the mobility of the sodium ion, its distribution was greatly affected by the method of sample preparation. The technique that best preserved the natural chemistry of the sample was that of freezing the tissue, sectioning, and then freeze-drying.

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