DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPACT NUCLEAR MICROPROBE SYSTEM AND ITS APPLICATION TO THE ANALYSIS OF TITANIUM CASTINGS

A compact nuclear microprobe system with a new configuration and a number of analysis functions has been developed. The overall size of the system is 4.5 (length) x 2.5 (width) x 1.8 (height) m. To estimate the focusing performance, secondary electron microscopic (SEM) images of line and 2-dimensional patterns of Au on a Si substrate were obtained. Stripes of 0.75 and 1 mum were resolved in horizontal and vertical directions. respectively. Micro-PIXE has been applied to the analysis of Ti castings. Two kinds of casting samples were prepared. They were cast by using a phosphate bonded or an ethylsilicate bonded investment. It was found that Si and P in the former casting diffuse down to at least 160 and 80 mum under the surface and Si in the latter down to at least 40 mum. It was also found that these values of diffusion depths are in good correlation with the results of a micro-Vicker's hardness test.