Preparation of source mounts for 4π counting

Abstract

The 4πβ/γ counter in the ANSTO radioisotope standards laboratory at Lucas Heights constitutes part of the Australian national standard for radioactivity. Sources to be measured in the counter must be mounted on a substrate which is strong enough to withstand careful handling and transport. The substrate must also be electrically conducting to minimise counting errors caused by charging of the source and it must have very low superficial density so that little or none of the radiation is absorbed. The entire process of fabrication of VYNS films coating them with gold/palladium and transferring them to source mount rings as carried out in the radioisotope standards laboratory is documented.