PREPARATION OF THIN ALPHA-PARTICLE SOURCES USING POLYPYRROLE FILMS FUNCTIONALIZED BY ALKYLAMMONIUM GROUPS

A new method for thin radioactive source preparation is presented base d on two distinct steps: (1) - preparation of a thin film (area of sev eral cm(2)) as a source support and (2) - incorporation of radioactive elements by an ion exchange mechanism. The alpha-sources are prepared by simply immersing the specially prepared supports into solutions co ntaining actinides. The thin films were obtained through electropolyme rization of pyrrole monomers functionalized by anion-exchange groups. The physicochemical parameters of the films such as deposit weight, th ickness and roughness have been studied. The ion exchange characterist ics of the polymer films are very similar to those of classical anion- exchange resins. The optimum actinide (uranium(VI), plutonium(IV) and americium(III) incorporation conditions (i.e. selection of the complex ing agent and retention yields) have been investigated in detail.