I have gotten a lot from this forum over the past couple years. Time to give back.
I've bought a fair number of isotope containers from radiopharmacies, some types in large numbers, others types just one or two. Being more than just a little picky I wanted to know exactly what I was getting, especially as an analysis I did on a couple big containers came back not showing any tin at all. Thanks to BNE, I now know, and can share the information with anybody else who comes across the same containers.
Many of the containers I have found are different from the ones sqlbullet has put up on the felling family webpage, so I think what I have here is mostly additional information.
Be advised: other threads have already shown that some identical looking containers (the big 32# generators come to mind) can vary in content. I have only done one analysis on one sample of each. So it is only an assumption that other containers of the same type are the same alloy.
BNE has also advised me that the inherent variability of the XRF technique, both in sampling and in the detection/analysis/reading, makes any number +/- by a couple tenths of a percent. I have seen this myself where a hand held Niton got four different numbers on four readings on the same ingot of alloy, including two readings from the same spot. Of course, as has been said here before, it's not like we're doing rocket science.
The first thin blue container contained Xenon gas ampules. The long one weighs 19 ounces, is 9" long and 3/4" diameter, with a small knurled cap with an O ring that weighs another 1.2 ounces. There is often a foam insert deep inside. Content on this example 2.5 % Sb, the rest Pb.
The container above is about 41 ounces, including the cap, and has a rounded base with a flat top. 3 3/4" tall, 2" diameter. Some specimens had a fiber pad and also residual adhesive from labels or padding. Content on this specimen was 1.6% Sb, the rest Pb. This was the lowest Sb content, and I could tell by the relative softness of the metal.
The container above is 11 ounces, including the cap, rounded on top and bottom, 2 1/2" tall and 1 1/2" diameter. This sample was 2.6% Sb, the rest Pb.
Attachment 217649
This purple container, with a cap labeled F-335, weighs 35 ounces, with total height 3 3/4" and 1 3/4" around. The base alone is 3 1/8" tall and weighs 27.6 ounces. The flanged cap is 3/4" tall and weighs 7.1 ounces. Content on this sample was 2.5% Sb, the rest Pb.
This little container weighs about 6 1/2 ounces with the cap, which reads Medi+Physics.Inc and is 2 3/8" tall with the cap and 1 1/8" diameter. Content on this specimen was 2.3% Sb, the balance Pb.
This is a two part container. The large piece is 31 ounces (metal portion only) and is 5 1/2" long, has a 2" diameter open top and a closed base 1 1/4" diameter. The small piece is 10 ounces (metal portion only), 2 5/8" long, 1 1/4" closed end and a 2 1/8" flanged open end. There is ribbing on the side. 2.3% Sb and the rest Pb for each.
Both parts have internal plastic cores, one of which is at the top of the picture, and the same plastic as a external sheath with threads that screw together. These plastic parts in most samples come out easily but in some are hot glued in and can be a pain to remove. On melting the metal the plastic may melt, bubble or burn. Some care is needed not to submerge any plastic in a melt to avoid spattering.
This is a 32 ounce container with a reduced diameter opening and a lid that has a slightly greenish varnish on it. 3 1/4" tall, 1 3/4" base diameter, 1 1/2" on the open end. The lid, which has an adhesive pad, is not a tight fit. (I could have gotten the lid from another container in error, but there was no other container in what I got that was a closer fit. It is also possible that there was a missing outer top cover of the same diameter as the bottom half). Analysis for this specimen showed 2.4% Sb, the rest Pb.
This and the next container were the first I got. Sorry about the orientation of the images. I'll fix that with new pix if I get more (the containers are melted down already). Content on this one, the heaviest I've gotten so far at 58#, 5" diameter and 7.25" tall (bigger are reportedly out there, but I haven't gotten any).was 3.8% Sb, the rest Pb.
This is one the large containers I got some time ago, weighing in at 37#, 4.5" diameter and 6" tall. Content was 2.1% Sb, the rest Pb
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More containers when I get pix. So far only one container (image and data coming) had any tin in it. The rest are all alloys of lead and antimony.