Preparation of microspherical alpha-radiation sources. [/sup 238/Pu; /sup 22/Na]

Sodium silicate glass microspheres in the 105-125 ..mu..m diameter size range, containing in vitreous solution the radioisotopes plutonium-238 and sodium-22, were prepared in four batches which emitted a nominal 40, 80, 320, and 640 nCi of total alpha radiation and approximately 1 nCi of gamma radiation form the sodium-22 isotope from each sphere. The initial integrity of the glasses was good and no wipeable contamination was detected from the spheres. The alpha particle range in the glass for the 5.5-MeV alpha particle emitted by plutonium-238 was calculated to be 15.2 ..mu..m, based upon radiometric analysis of individual spheres from each batch of product. (auth)