A new method for infiltration coating complex geometry matrices with compound materials for ISOL production target applications

Although a number of methods have been developed for depositing films of production target materials onto surfaces with thickness commensurate with fast diffusion release of short-lived radioactive species for Isotope Separator On-Line (ISOL) target applications, the methods are either inappropriate for coating interior surfaces of highly permeable matrices (non-infiltrating, non-penetrating) or require complex chemical processes that are only available for depositing a limited number of elemental or compound materials. A simple, fast, inexpensive and close to universal method, based on suspension of finely divided target material in a binder to form a paint, has been developed that can be vacuum infiltrated to uniformly coat the surfaces of highly permeable fibrous target matrices with compound target materials and thus, form fast diffusion-release, mechanically and thermally stable production targets for ISOL-based radioactive ion beam research applications. In this report, the paint infiltration technique is described and the universal character of the technique illustrated by preparing several nitride, carbide, oxide and sulfide targets for potential use at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility or at future high energy ISOL-based research facilities such as the Rare Isotope Accelerator facility, now under proposal for construction in the USA.