Enhancement and Validation of a 3D-Printed Solid Target Holder at a Cyclotron Facility in Perth, Australia

Sun Chan,David Cryer,Roger I Price

doi:10.3390/instruments3010012

Sun Chan, David Cryer + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments3010012

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Abstract

A 3D-printed metal solid target using additive manufacturing process is a cost-effective production solution to complex and intricate target design. The initial proof-of-concept prototype solid target holder was 3D-printed in cast alloy, Al–7Si–0.6Mg (A357). However, given the relatively low thermal conductivity for A357 (max, 160 W/m·K), replication of the solid target holder in sterling silver (SS925) with higher thermal conductivity (max, 361 W/m·K) was investigated. The SS925 target holder enhances the cooling efficiency of the target design, thus achieving higher target current during irradiation. A validation production of 64Cu using the 3D-printed SS925 target holder indicated no loss of enriched 64Ni from proton bombardment above 80 µA, at 11.5 MeV.

Highlights

We investigated enhancement of the design and material used in the construction of an existing3D-printed cast alloy (A357) solid target holder for improved thermal management and shuttle movement
Target design ensures compactness and a minimal amount of expensive enriched target material needed for each irradiation
The previous 3D-printed target [1] was fabricated from industrial cast alloy (Al–7Si–0.6Mg, A357)

Summary

Introduction

We investigated enhancement of the design and material used in the construction of an existing. 3D-printed cast alloy (A357) solid target holder for improved thermal management and shuttle movement. The enhanced solid target, constructed in sterling silver, enables the target to withstand the maximum extracted target current from an IBA Cyclone® 18/18 cyclotron at a degraded energy of 11.5 MeV. The improved thermal management of solid target material significantly improved the target yield and/or irradiation time, in order to achieve equivalent isotopic activity. The 3D-printed sterling silver solid target incorporates the experimentally derived thermocouple measurement configuration [1] for continuous temperature monitoring during an irradiation. The cost of the 3D-printed sterling silver target holder, at $650 USD, offers an economical alternative to the traditional subtractive manufacturing technique

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