PROMPT GAMMA-RAY NEUTRON-ACTIVATION ANALYSIS OF CEMENT RAW-MATERIALS

The prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analysis technique using a Cf- 252 neutron source has been used to determine lime, silica, alumina an d iron oxide concentrations in raw materials for cement making. Calibr ation curves have been obtained by measuring 15 different samples of l imestone and clay mixed in different proportions. The correlation coef ficient of the linear regression of the normalized peak count on the o xide concentration exceeds 0.98 when using a HPGe detector and 0.97 wh en using a NaI(Tl) detector. To check the calibration curves 4 unknown samples of random composition were used. Comparisons between the resu lts from chemical analysis and from nuclear measurements generally sho wn good agreement. However, large deviations were found when measuring the test samples, probably due to inadequate preparation of the sampl es used in the calibration.