Applications of INAA with Ghent k sub 0 factors to the analysis of high-purity metals and ceramics

Reactor neutron activation analysis (NAA) has been applied for many years in the chemical-analytical service carried out by the Central Division of Chemical Analysis at Kernforschungsanlage Julich. At this research center, two new research programs were started in 1986: high-temperature-resistant materials and structure ceramics, and basic research for information technology. Trace element analyses of materials are required for both programs, and the demand for activation analyses has largely increased. In most cases they are carried out by a purely instrumental technique, and radiochemical NAA is applied but with some special problems. Activation analyses have been carried out for a number of high-purity and ceramic materials, and the paper shows detection limits obtained with some of them. The differences in detection limits depend not only on the types of materials and the levels of impurities but also on the irradiation and counting conditions chose. In order to obtain realistic estimations of the uncertainties of the results, all sources of error have been considered and their influence on total uncertainties calculated via the error propagation law applied to the equation of absolute activation analysis.