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dpb

On 3/20/2013 7:08 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 20 Mar 2013 12:59:30 -0500, wrote:

On 3/20/2013 12:02 PM, Gunner wrote:
On Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:03:01 -0500, wrote:

On 3/20/2013 8:49 AM, Spehro Pefhany wrote:
...

Cost aside, I don't think it's very easy to get ahold of. I didn't try
very hard, but I didn't see much on offer in macroscopic sizes.

Ayup, it's not likely on the rack at the local ironmonger's, fer sure...

Oddly enough..it has turned up there, along with Cesium and other
Stuff.
...

Yeah, and (very hot) Co60 sources have turned up in kids' trousers
pockets on occasion, too, but it ain't terribly commonplace...

In US, ownership, production and use of DU are subject to state and
federal regulations per Title 10, Part 40, of the Code of Federal
Regulations (10CFR40).

In general, possession of more that 15 lbs. of DU requires a license
from the NRC or an Agreement State (a State which has it's own
equivalent of NRC oversight for commercial uses of nuclear material).

There are some specific exemptions for usage such as counterweights for
aircraft, missiles, large flywheels, etc., as well as for shielding for
things like spent fuel casks, x-ray and other radiation shielding
applications and the like with specific restrictions on how these items
are produced/labeled/controlled, etc., etc., etc., ...

That doesn't say that some don't necessarily follow all the rules on
disposal of some of these materials or that there aren't dealers who
have the necessary licenses in place to handle them. Again, just not
common.
I have looked, on occasion, for a couple pound chunk of DU, to use as
a conversation piece. Cast into some Lucite it would pose no radiation
hazard or contact dermatitis from handling. But I have not yet found
a source. Osmium would be an even better choice, as far as weight per
volume, but it is way too expensive.
Eric

I don't know of anywhere otomh of any distributor -- at one time United
Nuclear had small samples 'cuz we got some for the lab from them but
that was 10 yr or more ago and when I last looked it wasn't available.

The only pathway I'm aware of is through the various commercial entities
that build spent fuel shipping casks and the other legitimate industrial
uses outlined above and those supplies come from DOE from the tailings
of the enrichment process. My background is commercial power w/ some
work at the Oak Ridge and other DOE facilities but all work for DOE
dealt all w/ enriched material there (mostly low-enriched rather than
weapons grade) so I'm not even positive of the supply line for the
military for DU.

For an individual it's pretty much unobtanium afaik even tho there isn't
any actual prohibition but nobody's going to mess with the nuisance
factor of keeping their license inventory accountability would be my
take on the likelihood of finding it in such small amounts for individual.

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