Computer study was made on the production of multicurie amounts of highly alpha-active curium 242 from americium 241 irradiation. The information available includes curium 242 yields, curium composition, irradiation data, and production techniques and safeguards

Anderson, R. W.

Milstead, J.

Stewart, D. C.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

December 1967	 -	 fl	 Brief 67-10501 
AEC-NASA TECH BRIEF 
YES
AEC-NASA Tech Briefs describe innovations resulting from the research and development program 
of the U.S. AEC or from AEC-NASA interagency efforts. They are issued to encourage commercial 
application. Tech Briefs are published by NASA and may be purchased, at 15 cents each, from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Neutron Irradiation of A 
Reports are now available on the production of 
multicurie amounts of highly alpha-active Cm 242 from 
Am241 irradiation. A computer study on produc-
tion of the isotope was undertaken because of the 
increasing need for Cm 242 in research. 
Am241 was considered as a starting material for the 
following reasons: 
1. As plutonium-based power reactors become more 
common, large amounts of Am 241 will become 
available as a byproduct of plutonium fuel 
reprocessing. 
2. Am24 I can be obtained from separated reactor 
plutonium by a simple "milking" operation, 
whereas other heavy nuclide targets require a 
complicated preliminary preparation followed by 
an industrial-scale remote-processing step. 
3. High total yields of curium can be obtained from 
an Am 241 target irradiated in a properly selected 
neutron flux. 
4. The decay product of Cm 242 1 Pu238 (t 112 = 89.6 
yrs), is an isotope of much interest as an isotopic 
power source, so it would be a valuable byprod-
uct. 
The proposed production scheme would involve 
irradiation of Am241 in fluxes of the order of 5 to 7 x 
10 14n/cm2/sec to the point of maximum curium pro-
duction. The irradiated material would then be proc-
essed to isolate the curium fraction. If the application 
required the use of an extremely intense alpha source, 
the Cm242 product could be used at this point. If the 
requirement was for a longer-lived heat source, the 
curium could be allowed to decay to Pu238 and used 
in that form. 
Notes: 
I. The information available includes Cm242 yields, 
curium composition, irradiation data, and produc-
Effectively Produces Curium 
tion techniques and safeguards. General informa-
tion on the production of transcurium elements in 
high neutron fluxes also can be obtained. In addi-
tion, a report is available which contains calcula-
tions made on the buildup of higher nuclides in 
samples of various heavy element starting materials 
at high neutron fluxes. 
2. Additional information is contained in the follow-
ing publications written by D. C. Stewart, R. W. 
Anderson, and John Milsted: 
(a) Data Relating to the Production of Transcurium 
Elements in High Neutron Fluxes, ANL-6932, 
Argonne National Laboratory, September 
1964. 
(b) The Production of Curium by Neutron Irradia-
tion of Am241 , ANL-6933, Argonne National 
Laboratory, November 1964. 
3. Inquiries concerning this innovation may be di-
rected to:
Office of Industrial Cooperation 
Argonne National Laboratory 
9700 South Cass Avenue 
Argonne, Illinois 60439 
Reference: B67-10501 
Source: D. C. Stewart, R. W. Anderson 
and J. Milstead 
Chemistry Division 
(ARG-10030) 
Patent status 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for commercial use 
of this innovation may be made to: 
Mr. George H. Lee, Chief 
Chicago Patent Group 
U.S. Atomip Energy Commission 
Chicago Operations Office 
9800 South Cass Avenue 
Argonne, Illinois 60439
Category 03 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the Atomic 
Energy Commission and/or the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration. Neither the United States Government nor any per-
son acting on behalf of the United States Government assumes any
liability resulting from the use of the information contained in this 
document, or warrants that the use of any information, apparatus, 
method, or process disclosed in this document may not infringe pri-
vately owned rights.
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Neutron irradiation of Am-241 effectively produces curium

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