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A Method for Electroforming
Copper with Ultra-Low Levels of Radioactivity—Reeves & Sons, LLC,
Mr. James H. Reeves,
Mr. James H. Reeves, Business
Official, ark.ie@verizon.net
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-04ER84060
Amount: $700,000
The search for rare events, such as double beta decay and
dark matter, requires large masses of detectors and support materials. These extremely rare events are difficult to
distinguish from other interactions caused by the radioactive decay of
radionuclides contained in these materials.
Therefore, if these materials could be made virtually free of
radioactive contamination, the probability of successful searches would be
enhanced. In this project, the
radiopurity of one such material, electroformed copper, will be enhanced by
using an already pure form of copper, oxygen-free high conductivity (OFHC)
copper, which is electroplated in baths assembled from ultra-pure chemicals and
construction materials. By performing
the electroplating deep underground, cosmic-ray-induced radioactivity, which
would otherwise be present in the copper, can be radically reduced. Other metals could be produced in a similar
manner. In Phase I, an underground copper electroplating laboratory was
constructed and outfitted with plating baths made from very pure plastics and
high purity chemicals. It was shown that
ultra-pure copper, collected on the cathodes of one bath, could be used as
anodes in a second bath, thus progressively increasing the purity of the final
product. In Phase II, techniques will be
developed for testing the plating bath and the quality of the copper produced. Methods will be developed to continually clean
the bath of radioactive contaminants thus prolonging the useful life of the
bath. Two tons of copper will produced
for use as inner shielding for ultra-low background detectors.
Commercial Applications And Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The high purity material would have applicability to research projects in nuclear physics and other sciences.