METHOD FOR FABRICATING THIN CALIFORNIUM-CONTAINING RADIOACTIVE SOURCE WIRES

摘要

A method for reducing the cross-sectional diameter of a radioactivecalifornium-containing cermet wire (17) while simultaneously improving thewire diameter to a more nearly circular cross section. A collet fixture (15)is used to reduce the wire diameter by contolled pressurization pulses whilesimultaneously improving the wire cross-sectional diameter. The method isespecially suitable for use in hot cells for the production of optimizedcermet brachytherapy sources that contain large amounts of radioactivecalifornium-252.