About this Abstract |
Meeting |
2023 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
Symposium
|
Characterization of Minerals, Metals and Materials
|
Presentation Title |
Forensic Signatures of Uranium Enrichment in UV Cured Epoxy |
Author(s) |
Daniel Reinfurt, Michael Short, Rachel Connick, Avery Nguyen, Charles Hirst |
On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Daniel Reinfurt |
Abstract Scope |
Preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons has many components, one of which is accounting for the production of fissile material. However, while there are well defined forensic techniques for estimating and verifying the production of plutonium, there are currently no such techniques for the production of highly enriched uranium, despite the fact that every nation which has acquired nuclear weapons having used uranium enrichment. Through the use of Fast Scanning Calorimetry, we investigate whether alpha radiation from uranium can cause a detectable change in the glass transition temperature in UV cured fluorinated epoxy, a material which can be used in uranium enrichment cascades. A change in the glass transition temperature can then be related to uranium enrichment and production. This potentially allows a way to fill the gap in nuclear forensics regarding uranium enrichment, allowing a more comprehensive verification of fissile material production for nations subject to the non-proliferation treaty. |
Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
Keywords |
Characterization, Polymers, Other |