Raioactive tracing with particles
AssigneeProtechnics International, Inc.
InventorsThomas R. Bandy, Donna A. Read, Edward S. Wallace
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Abstract
There is provided radioactive particles having a ceramic matrix and an element which can be bombarded with neutrons to produce a gamma ray-emitting isotope. The particles are manufactured by mixing the ceramic components and the element, forming particles, sintering the particles, and the particles are subsequently made radioactive by bombardment with neutrons. Particles injected into wells or flow apparatus are traced by adding the radioactive particles and detecting the radioactive particles with gamma ray-sensitive instruments. Particles containing different elements are detected by spectral analysis of gamma rays.
Claims18
A non-radioactive particle comprising a sintered ceramic material having embedded therein a target element wherein the target element is either iridium or scandium.
A radioactive particle comprising a sintered ceramic material having embedded therein a target element, said target element being made radioactive by bombardment with neutrons.
A non-radioactive particle comprising a sintered ceramic material having embedded therein a target element wherein the target element is selected from the group consisting of antiomony, silver, hafnium, chromium and gold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.