NBS

PUBLICATIONS

A111IHE blblbL

NATL INST OF STANDARDS & TECH R.I.I- 3480

All 10261 61 66

Humphreys, J. C

QC100 .U56 NO. Hardness Assurance Testing

J. C. Humphreys and Charles M. Dozier

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Bureau of Standards

National Measurement Laboratory

Center for Radiation Research

Ionizing Radiation Division

Gaithersburg, MD 20899

This work sponsored by Defense Nuclear

Agency under Project RV, Task RA and

Work Unit 119.

November 1986

" ® DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

QC

100

• U56

)NAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

#86-3480

1986

c. 2

NBS

RESEARCH

INFORMATION CENTER

NBSIR 86-3480

COBALT-60 FACILITIES AVAILABLE FOR

HARDNESS ASSURANCE TESTING

J. C. Humphreys and Charles M. Dozier

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Bureau of Standards

National Measurement Laboratory

Center for Radiation Research

Ionizing Radiation Division

Gaithersburg, MD 20899

This work sponsored by Defense Nuclear

Agency under Project RV, Task RA and

Work Unit 119.

November 1986

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Malcolm Baldrige, Secretary

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler. Director
'

.
Cobalt-60 Facilities Available

For Hardness Assurance Testing

ABSTRACT

This report contains a list of cobalt-60 gamma-ray irradiation

facilities that are available for hardness assurance testing of

electronic devices. A summary of source type, ab s o rb e d - do s

e

rates, experimental volume available, and other pertinent

information is given for each facility.

Key Words: absorbed- dose rate, cobalt-60 facility, gamma rays,

irradiation volume, radiation hardness testing.

1
-
A . INTRODUCTION

Many organizations occasionally need access to cobalt-60

facilities for gamma-ray irradiation of microelectronic devices

or systems as part of a hardness assurance testing program. Some

of these organizations have in-house irradiation facilities. For

those organizations that do not, facilities listed in this report

can provide such services. The list summarizes the pertinent

information about each facility such as source type, absorbeddose rates available, irradiation volume, user contact points,

etc. The facilities listed are wide-spread geographically, but

are not inclusive. An earlier list included all known facilities

worldwide, but gave no details other than the operator and plant

de s i gne r [ 1 ]

. *

If the reader represents an organization that he feels

should be on the list, he should contact one of the authors. It

is planned that the list will be revised periodically and

reissued to keep it as current as possible.

The list of characteristics for each facility is summarized

from information supplied by the facility operator and, in some

cases (such as absorbed dose rates), may be only approximations,

due to such variables as source geometry. A prospective user

should communicate with the contact person listed at the facility

for the latest and most accurate information.

The facilities listed have been designed for a wide variety

of applications. The energy spectral characteristics of many of

them probably are not well known. Calculations of the energy

spectra of a few types of sources have been made and indicate

1
that significant low-energy components exist for certain

geometries [2, 3]. These low-energy components may cause serious

dosimetry errors due to absorbed dose enhancement effects near

interfaces. As a result, it is recommended that all testing be

conducted with the devi ce s - unde r - 1 e s t and the dosimeters

contained within a lead- aluminum filter box. A discussion of the

potential dosimetry errors and recommended material thicknesses

for such a filter box are given in reference [4]

^Figures in brackets indicate the literature references which are

listed at the end of this report.

2
REFERENCES

1. "World List of Industrial Gamma Irradiators", compiled by

Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Association of International

Industrial Irradiation, Newsletter No. 12, pp . 163-167, (Oct

1984) .

2. Woolf, S ., and Fr e de r i cks on , A.R., "Photon Spectra in ^Co -7

Test Cell", IEEE Trans. Nuc . Sci., NS - 30 . pp . 4371-4376 (1983).

3. Woolf, S., and Burke, E.A., "Monte Carlo Calculations of

Irradiation Test Photon Spectra", IEEE Trans. Nuc. Sci., NS - 3

1

.

pp. 1089-1094 (1984).

4. Brown, D.B., and Dozier, C.M, "Reducing Errors in Dosimetry

C aus e d

by Low Energy Components of Co-60 and Flash X-Ray Sources", IEEE

Trans. Nuc. Sci., NS-29 pp . 1996-1999 (1982).

3
ORGANIZATION: Armed Forces Radiological Research

Institute

Bethesda, MD

TYPE OF SOURCE: H 2 0 pool, 33' by 33' by 33'.

Samples can be placed in interior of

source region.

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si): 4 x 10 5 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: Central region 8" by 8” by 14"

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: None

COST: Depends on test

USER PRIVILEGES: AFRRI operates source. User sets up

and runs experiment.

CONTACT: Capt. Leonard Alt

Armed Forces Radiological Research

Institute

NMC -NCR

Bethesda, MD 20814

Telephone.: ( 202 ) 295 - 1096

4
ORGANIZATION: Battelle Memorial Institute

Columbus , OH

TYPE OF SOURCE: Room source, 3300 Curies (acquiring 50

kCuries in near future). Sources are

cylindrical rods which are arranged for test.

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si): 1 x 10 6 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: 9' by 25' by 30'

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: None

COST: Depends on test - Typical test programs $5K-10K

USER PRIVILEGES: Operator supplied for source. User free

to control and operate own test equipment.

CONTACT: Dr. V. Pasupathi

Battele Columbus Laboratories

505 King Avenue

Columbus, OH 43201

Telephone: (614) 879-5140

5
ORGANIZATION: Boeing Aerospace Company

Seattle , WA

TYPE OF SOURCE: (1) Gammace 1

1

220

(2) Gammacell 220

(3) Gammace 11 200

(4) Gamma Lab (room)

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si) : (1) 1 X 10 6 r ad/h

(2) 4 X 10 5 r ad/h

(3) 6 X 10 3 r ad/h

(4) 9 X 10 3 r ad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: (1) and (2) 6" dia. by 8" height

(3) 3.5" dia. by 5.5" height

( 4 ) 5 ' by 15' room

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: Up to 37°C

COST: $800 /Day

USER PRIVILEGES: Unlimited within established operating

procedures. Automated test equipment

is availab le

.

CONTACT: Mr. Dennis Russell

Boeing Aerospace Company

P.0. Box 3999

Seattle, WA 98124

Mail Stop 2R-00

Telephone: (206) 655-6712

6
OPERATION

Brookhaven Gamma - Irradiat ion Facilities

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Upton, New York

TYPE OF SOURCE: Water Pool

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si): 4 x 10 6 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: 4" diameter by 10" height

in center of source

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: N/A

COST: N/A

USER PRIVILEGES: Staff inserts sample

CONTACTMr Wa Iter B ec ke r Br o o kh aven N at io nal Labo

B

1

d S 830

Up to n , ny :LI 97 3 Te le ph one : (5 16 ) 282-45 or 4526

7
ORGANIZATION

:

General Electric Company

Utica, NY

TYPE OF SOURCE: AECL Gammacell 220

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si): 6 x 10 5 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: 6" dia. by 8" height

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: N/A

COST: Depends on test program

USER PRIVILEGES: Users may do their own irradiations

under staff supervision. Visitors must

have a security clearance and be escorted to

and from the facility.

CONTACT: Mr. Charles M. Hewison

General Electric Company

Aerospace Electronic Products Dept.

French Road

Utica, NY 13502

Telephone: (315) 793-5375

8
ORGANIZATION: General Electric Company

Space Division

Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

TYPE OF SOURCE: Gammacell 220

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si): 2 x 10 5 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: 6 " d i a . by 8" height

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: Monitored

COST: Approx $900/day (includes technician support)

USER PRIVILEGES: User can operate with technician support.

Automated test equipment for up to 24 pin

devices available. GE will also do all testing and supply test results.

CONTACT: Mr. Larry C. Jeffers

P.0. Box 8555

Philadelphia, PA 19101

Telephone: (215) 962-3811 x3196

9
ORGANIZATION

:

Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, Georgia

TYPE OF SOURCE: Room source - stored in H 2 O

pool. Have 8 source frames and

5 cylindrical sources.

30 ports for 1" cables.

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATES (in Si): 3 x 10 6 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME 7' by 13' by 23'

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: Max 50°C

COST: $85 0/day

USER PRIVILEGES: User operates own equipment. Institute

operates source and can provide calculations, dosimetry and pictures.

CONTACT: Mr. Jerry Taylor

Georgia Institute of Technology

Frank H. Neely Nuclear Research Center

900 Atlantic Drive, NW

Atlanta, GA 30332

Telephone: (404) 894-3608

10
ORGANIZATION: Hughes Aircraft Company

El S e gundo , CA

TYPE OF SOURCE: (1) Gammacell 220

(2) GR9

(3) GR9

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si)

(1) 2 X 10 6 r ad/h

(2) 2 X 10 5 rad/h

(3) 4 X 10 4 r ad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: (1) 6" dia. by 8" height

(2) and (3) 4" dia. by 5" height

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: Negligible

COST: Depends on test procedure

USER PRIVILEGES: HAC operates source, will do testing for

user, or allow user to run own test program.

CONTACT: Mr. Joe Zeleck

Hughes Aircraft Company

P.O. Box 902

Bldg. E - 2 MS - S 1 0 7 El Segundo, CA 90245

Telephone: (213) 616 -0277

11
ORGANIZATION: International Nutronics

Irvine , CA

TYPE OF SOURCE: 1.6 MCuries in 195 cylindrical rods.

Source also used for medical and food

irradiations

.

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si): 5 x 10 6 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: 20' by 40' room

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: Room temperature

COST: Depends on test

USER PRIVILEGES: Company supplies dosimetry and operates

source. Experimenter operates own euipment .

CONTACT: Mr. Robert Baldwin

International Nutronics

1962 Barranca Rd.

Irving, CA 92714

Telephone: (714) 863-9361

12
ORGANIZATION: International Nutronics

Palo Alto , CA

TYPE OF SOURCE: 250 kCuries in 48 cylindrical rods.

Source also used for medical and food

irradiations

.

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si): 3 x 10 6 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: 10' by 12'room

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: Room temperature

COST: Depends on test

USER PRIVILEGES: Company

source

.

ment .

supplies dosimetry and

Experimenter operates

ope rates

own equipCONTACT: Mr . Tom Rensel

International Nutronics

1237 N. San Antonio Road

Palo Alto, CA 94303

Telephone: (415) 968-5257

13
ORGANIZATION: IRT Corporation

San Diego , CA

TYPE OF SOURCE: Gammacell 220

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si): 3 x 10 5 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: 6 " d i a . by 8" height

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: Approx. 3°C per Mrad

COST: Negotiable

USER PRIVILEGES: Staff operated

CONTACT

:

M r . John Ha r r i ty

I RT Corpo r a t i on

3 030 Call an Rd.

S an Diego » CA 9212 1 T e 1 e phone ( 619) 45 0

14
ORGANIZATION: Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Pasadena, CA

TYPE OF SOURCE: Room source

.

Two Co-60 sources on rails

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si): 3 x 10 5 rad/h

USABLE IRRADITION VOLUME: 20' by 20' by 14'

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: Room temperature

COST: Evaluated case-by-case

USER PRIVILEGES: Licensed

source

.

ment .

operator required to operate

User allowed to run the experi

CONTACTMr . Mi chae 1 G authier

Je t Pr opul s i o n Laboratory

MS -Til 80

48 00 0 ak G r o v e Drive

Pa s ade na , CA 9 1109

Te 1 eph one : (8 1 8) 354-2126

15
ORGANIZATION

:

Martin Marietta Aerospace

Orlando , FL

TYPE OF SOURCE: J.L. Shepard Model 109 -- 6 rods in Pb

shielding container. H 2 O cooled.

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si): 7 x 10 5 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: 3" dia. by 6" height

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: None

COST: Depends on test

USER PRIVILIGES: Operator is supplied. Have electronics

for tests. Will do testing.

CONTACT: Mr. Jim Simmons

Martin Marietta Aerospace

P.O. Box 5837

MS - 163

Orlando, FL 32855

Telephone: (305) 356-4458

16
ORGANIZATION: National Bureau of Standards

Gaithersburg, MD

TYPE OF SOURCE: (1) AECL Gammacell 220

(2) Pool source: 12 source pencils

in cylindrical array

(3) Teletherapy collimated beam

source

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si)

(1) 1 X 10 6 rad/h

(2) 4 X 10 5 rad/h

(3) 1 X 10 3 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: (1) 6" d i a . by 8" height

(2) 3" dia . by 4" height

(3) 12 " dia collimated beam

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: (1) -40°C

( 2 ) none

( 3 ) none

COST: Depends on Test

USER PRIVILEGES: Source operator provided. User

provides and operates own test

equipment

.

CONTACT: Mr. J. C. Humphreys

National Bureau of Standards

C216 Radiation Physics Building

Gaithersburg, MD 20899

Telephone: (301) 921-2201

17
ORGANIZATION: Naval Research Laboratory

Washington, DC

TYPE OF SOURCE: Water pool; Two sources: (1) & (2).

Sample can be placed in center of source

or in several positions surrounding the source.

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: 3" by 11" height

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: None

COST: $100 (insertion + 24 hr) $30 each addl . 24 hrs

.

USER PRIVILEGES: User can operate after training

CONTACT: Mr. L.S. August

Radiation, Beams, and Sources Section

Code 6614

Naval Research Laboratory

Washington, DC 20375

Telephone: (202) 767-3938

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si)

:

(1) 1 x 10 4

(2) 4 x 10 2 r ad/h

r ad/h

18
ORGANIZATION: Rockwell International

Anaheim, CA

TYPE OF SOURCE: (1) AECL Gammacell 200

(2) J.L. Shepard Model 109

(3) J.L. Shepard Model 81

( semicoil imated source

in shielded room)

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si)

(1) 1 X 10 6 r ad/h

(2) 9 x 10 4 r ad/h

(3) N/A

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME

(1) 3.5" dia. by 5 " height

(2) 4 " dia. by 6" he ight

(3) 12 ' x 12 ' room

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: N/A

COST: N/A

USER PRIVILEGES: N/A

CONTACT: Mr. Larry Green or Rick Halverson

Rockwell International

Defense Electronics Operations

3370 Miroloma Ave . , P.O. Box 3105

Anaheim, CA 92803

Telephone: (714) 632-0775

19
ORGANIZATION: Rome Air Development Center (RADC)

Hans c om AFB , MA

TYPE OF SOURCE: Room source - 20 rods approximately

12" long arranged in 5" diameter

cylindrical array.

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si): 5 x 10 6 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: Inside source - 5" dia. by 6" height.

Room 8' by 8' by 12'

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: Cooling can be provided.

COST: Operator salary - $218 to $374 per day

USER PRIVILEGES: Supplies dosimetry and operates source.

User supplies own equipment.

CONTACT: Mr. John Schott

RADC/ESR

Hanscom AFB, MA 01731

Telephone: (617) 861-3445

20
ORGANIZATION: Sandia National Laboratories

Albuquerque, NM

TYPE OF SOURCE: Gamma Irradiation Facility.

Room source with sources in one

corner of room.

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si): 2 x 10 6 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: Room 8' by 8' by 8'.

Inside source rods:

7.5" by 5.5" by 9.5"

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: None

COST: $ 8 5/hour

USER PRIVILEGES: Operator controls the source.

User responsible for experimental setup

and operation of experiment.

CONTACT: Dr. David Vehar

Sandia National Laboratories

Org 6452

P.0. Box 5800

Albuquerque, NM 87185

Telephone: (505) 844-4820

21
ORGANIZATION: Southwest Research Institute Gamma Facility

Southwest Research Institute

San Antonio, TX

TYPE OF SOURCE: Two hot cells.

Multiple configurations possible.

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si): 3 x 10 6 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: 9' by 15' by 13'

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: 20°C in SS per Mrad/h

COST: Approx. $500/day, negotiable

USER PRIVILEGES: Staff operated

CONTACT: Mr. David G. Cadena, Jr., Senior Research Physicist

Department of Fuels and Lubricant Technology

Southwest Research Institute

6220 Culebra Road

San Antonio, TX 78238

Telephone: (512) 684-5111

22
ORGANIZATION

TRW, Inc.

Redondo Beach, CA

TYPE OF SOURCE: (1) Gammacell 220

(2) Gammacell 220

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si)

(1) 7 x 10 5 rad/h

(2) 1 x 10 5 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: 6" dia. by 8" height

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: (1) 32°C

( 2 ) None

COST: Depends on test.

USER PRIVILEGES: Facility operates irradiators.

User may do own testing or in

collaboration with facility staff.

CONTACT: Mr. Paul Guilfoyle

TRW, Inc.

MS 84/1002

One Space Park

Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Telephone: (213) 535-0056

23
ORGANIZATION: University of Lowell

Lowell , MA

TYPE OF SOURCE: Approximately 1 MCi plaque array

of sources in H 2 O pool. Moved to 1/2" Al

window for irradiations. 4 plugs and 4

electrical conduits for access to experiment.

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si): 5 x 10 6 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: 8' by 8' by 8'

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: Controlled by vent.

COST: Depends on test -- $ 5 0/ i r r adi a t i on avg

.

USER PRIVILIGES: University operates source.

User runs own equiment.

CONTACT: Mr. Tom Wallace

University of Lowell

Radiation Laboratory

1 University Ave

.

Lowell, MA 01854

Telephone: (617) 452-5000

24
ORGANIZATION

University of Maryland

College Park, MD

TYPE OF SOURCE: Room source. 10 source pencils in

cylindrical array 3.25" in diameter

Sources stored in water, raised to

irradiate position 30 inches above

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si): 9 x 10 5 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: In cylinder: 3" dia. by

Room: 15' by 15' by 10'

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: None

COST: Depends on test

USER PRIVILEGES: User operates own experiment

CONTACT: Dr. Walter J. Chappas

University of Maryland

Chemical Engineering Building

College Park, MD 20742

Telephone: (301) 454-8757

floor

.

12" height,

high .

25
ORGANIZATION: White Sands Missile Range

White S ands , NM

TYPE OF SOURCE: Room source. 1 to 10 cylindrical source

capsules are transferred pneumatically

from storage to head assembly. Samples

can be placed in cavity in head assembly

for maximum absorbed dose rate.

MAXIMUM ABSORBED

DOSE RATE (in Si): 10 x 10 6 rad/h

USABLE IRRADIATION VOLUME: 5 cm dia. cavity. Room: 12.8

meters by 6.1 meters by 3.7 meters

high .

TEMPERATURE RISE DURING IRRADIATION: N/A

COST: Determined by test

USER PRIVILEGES: Facility operates source

CONTACT: Mr. Roland Penny

White Sands Nuclear Effects Facility

Gamma Radiation Facility

White Sands Missile Range

NM 88002

Telephone: (505) 678-1161

26 .
NBS-114A (REV. 2 -80 ) U.S. DEPT. OF COMM. 1 . PUBLICATION OR 2. Performing Organ. Report No. 3. Publication Date BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

REPORT NO.

SHEET (See instructions) NBSIR 86-3480 NOVEMBER 1986

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

Cobalt-60 Facilities Available For Hardness Assurance Testing

5. AUTHOR(S)

J. C. Humphreys and Charles M. Dozier

6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION (If joint or other than N BS. see instructions)

National Bureau of Standards

Gaithersburg, MD 20899

7. Contract/Grant No. DNA IACRO 86-816

8 . Type of Report & Period Covered

Final

9. SPONSORING ORGANIZATION NAME AND COMPLETE ADDRESS (Street. City. State. ZIP)

Defense Nuclear Agency

Attn: (RAEV, Major R. C. Zittel)

Washington, DC 20305

10. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

J Document describes a computer program; SF-185, FlPS Software Summary, is attached.

11. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary of most si gn ificant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here)

This report contains a list of cobalt-60 gamma-ray irradiation facilities that

are available for hardness assurance testing of electronic devices. A summary

of source type, absorbed-dose rates, experimental volume available, land other

pertinent information is given for each facility.

12. KEY WORDS (Six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only proper names; and separate key words by semicolon s) absorbed-dose rate, cobalt-60 facility, gamma rays, irradiation volume,

radiation hardness testing.

13. AVAILABILITY 14. NO. OF

[XX| Unlimited

| | For Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS

PRINTED PAGES

30

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20402. 15. Price

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