US1644370A - Method of artificially producing radioactive substances - Google Patents

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. 1,644,370 9 A. GASCHLER METHOD OF ARTIFICALLY PRODUCING RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES Filed Sept. 4, 1924 GaSc/qlew Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,644,370 PATENT OFFICE.

ALOIS GASCHLER, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

METHOD OF ARIIT'ICIALLY PRODUCING RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES.

- Application filed September 4, 1924, Serial No. 735,962, and in Germany April 20, 1923.

The object of this invention is to transform materials of relatively low. radioactivity into materials of relatively high radioactivity and in general to increase the radioactivity of such'materials.

Another object of my invention is to increase the radioactivity of uranium and thorium.

Another object of my invention is to accelerate to a hi hdegree the very slow spontaneous trans ormation of uranium and thorium. a

In general, in the process of my invention, a small quantity of metal to be transformed is heated to a high temperature under high pressure in an enclosed chamber. The metallic vapor is dissociated, and is exposed either to high electro-static, uni directional potentials or to uni-directional currents at igh potentials. The volume of the chamber is usually large in proportion to the normal volume of the material to be transformed. The currents and high potentials may be employed concurrent with the heating step. I

ave used on the average approximately 100 kilowatt seconds of electrical energy to produce 1 gram of uranium or thorium.

' In order to producea very high pressure, while heating the metal and to avoid as much as possible the loss of energy by the esca e of heat, such as radiation, the metal is ormed into a thin filament weighing about 1 gram. The filament is fixed inside a channel formed in a mass of insulating material, such as massive quartz, granite, steatite or other stone or mineral. The two ends of the filament are attached to two large metallic disks which act also as closing means for the channel. These disks bear clamps to which leads for the source of current may be attached. The duration of the current is usually 1-2 seconds. After cooling the metal may be regained either by mechanical or chemical means.

Tested by difierent methods the product obtained proves to be considerably more radioactive than the product before transformation. This process can also be applied to the rational transformation of other elements.

The efiiciency of the transformation is all the greater the higher the potential of the current. The efficiency is also higher, the more the dissociated vapor comes in contact with the pole faces. In operating this process it is advisable therefore to employ not onl a heating current of low voltage and big intensity but also a current of small intensity and high voltage. It is therefore advisable to insert into the chamber a second pair of electrodes of large surface which is connected to a high tension circuit. A Crooks tube and a rectifier tube may be employed in this circuit as a high tension resistance.

In operating on a large scale, instead of using metallic filaments, the metal to be transformed is introduced into the chamber containing the electric are via a valve and is also removed from this chamber via a valve.

Reference may be had to the accompanying figure for an apparatus capable of carrying out my process.

Referring to this drawing, a is an earthenware iacket or sheathing, in which there is provi ed a cavity. or hollow space I; for the reception of the metal to be transformed which metal passes through the cavity 6 in the form of a filament a or, if mercury is involved, fills the passage 6 so as to form a two metal plates d and e are fitted with the necessary current terminals.

The above is to be taken as merely illustrative of my invention and the best mode of operating the same and not as limiting the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

1. A process for increasing the radioactivity of materials which comprises heating the same to a high temperature and pressure and submitting the heated material to the influence of a high potential current.

2. A process for increasing the radioactivityof materials which comprises heating the same to a high temperature and pressure in a relatively large chamber and submitting the said material to a high potential unidirectional current.

3. A process for increasing the radioactivity of materials which comprises heating said materials to a high temperature by means of an electric current of low voltage and high intensity and subjectin said heated ma-. terials to a current of high voltage and low intensity.

4. A process for increasing the radioactivity of materials which comprises heating said materials to a high temperature to vaporize'said material and submitting said vapors to the action of. a high tension cur- These rent passing between electrodes of relatively large electrode surfaces and submitting said vapors to contact with saidelectrodes.

5. A process for theincreasing radioactiv- 6 ity of materials which comprises vaporizing said materials by heating said materials to a high temperature and at a high pressure by means of a current of low voltage and high intensity and submitting said vapors to contact with relatively large electrodes and passing a high tension low intensity current between said electrodes.

' In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DB. ALOIS GASCHLER.

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