Applications of Rare Earth Tracers to Gunpowder Residues
- 1 January 1970
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Nuclear Applications and Technology
- Vol. 8 (1) , 73-78
- https://doi.org/10.13182/nt70-a28637
Abstract
The results of an experimental investigation of a gunpowder residue test based on the addition of 0.1 wt% of rare earth oxide to gunpowder is reported. A total of 512 test samples have been subjected to statistical analysis. The findings of this investigation demonstrate that the use of europium-labeled gunpowder can provide the basis for a rapid and simple instrumental gunpowder-residue test which can detect the firing of a weapon with a high degree of probability. The results of the tests with europium-labeled gunpowder are compared with the analysis of barium and antimony in primer residues. A cost analysis indicates that europium labeling of gunpowder will increase the cost of ammunition by < 2%.Keywords
This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- Alpha—a computer program for the determination of radioisotopes by least-squares resolution of the gamma-ray spectraNuclear Instruments and Methods, 1966
- On Some Two-Sample Non-Parametric TestsJournal of the American Statistical Association, 1965
- Detection of Gunpowder Residues by Neutron Activation AnalysisNuclear Science and Engineering, 1964