Irradiating graphite taget coated with silicon-glue

[CyrilM]

As part of experiment i need to irradiate the graphite target coated with silicon glue to keep it intact. Is this advisable? what would be the effect of the silicon glue on the safety side?

 

[QuantumPion]

Silicon has a low neutron absorption cross section, and it would behave similarly to carbon under beta or photon irradiation, so there should be no issue.

 

[Hologram0110]

Pure carbon and pure silicon shouldn't do anything too strange under irradiation. BUT with many irradiation experiments it isn't the primary material that may become activated, but the trace contaminants. For example, cobalt-59 is a trace metal in many alloys not by design, but because of limited purity. When irradiated with neutrons it becomes cobalt-60 which is a strong gamma emitter. This is one of the reason that materials used in the nuclear industry tend to have much lower impurity concentrations.

I would suggest you start with a small sample of both the graphite and the silicon glue. Do a couple of short irradiation and check for radioactivity of your sample. If you have access to a detector capable of determining the energy spectrum of the out coming radiation you could do gamma analysis to determine what in your sample is becoming radioactive.

If you only irradiate a small sample of each for short times the activity will be low enough to be safe, but high enough to detect before you accidentally make a strongly radioactive sample. If you do make something that is more radioactive then you would like to deal with, just wait it out, the higher the activity (for a given amount), the shorter the half-life of the isotope.

 

[CyrilM]

Good suggestions, thanks guys

 

[alphy]

I would advise caution when irradiating any materials, including graphite targets coated with silicon glue. While the use of silicon glue may help keep the target intact during the experiment, it is important to consider the potential effects of irradiation on the safety of the experiment.

Silicon glue is typically made from a polymer called polydimethylsiloxane, which is known to be resistant to high temperatures and radiation. However, it is important to note that the effects of irradiation on this material may not be fully understood. Depending on the type and intensity of the radiation used, the silicon glue may break down or release harmful chemicals that could affect the safety of the experiment.

In addition, the irradiation process itself can also generate heat, which could potentially affect the integrity of the silicon glue and the overall safety of the experiment. It is important to carefully monitor the temperature during the irradiation process and take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the experiment and its researchers.

In conclusion, while the use of silicon glue may be necessary to keep the graphite target intact during the experiment, it is important to thoroughly assess the potential effects of irradiation on the safety of the experiment and take necessary precautions to mitigate any risks. Further research and testing may also be necessary to fully understand the effects of irradiation on silicon glue and other materials used in similar experiments.