Advantages and limitations of thermal and epithermal neutron activation analysis of bulk samples

Systematic investigations have been carried out to extend the thermal neutron activation method for elemental analysis of bulk samples. A new method developed for the determination of the flux perturbation factor renders the thermal and epithermal neutron activation analyses of bulky samples of unknown compositions possible both in hydrogenous and in graphite moderators. The flux perturbation, F, depression, H, and self-absorption, G, factors are given for different samples. The limitation of the epithermal neutron activation analysis for hydrogenous bulky samples is also discussed.