Two-step-pressurization method in pulsed electric current sintering of MoO for production of Tc radioactive isotope

Suematsu, Hisayuki*; Sato, Soma*; Nakayama, Tadachika*; Suzuki, Tatsuya*; Niihara, Koichi*; Nanko, Makoto*; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko 

Pulsed electric current sintering of molybdenum trioxide (MoO) was carried out by one- and two-step pressuring methods for fabrication of irradiation target using production of Mo and Tc nuclear medicine. At 550C by the two-step pressurizing method, a relative density of 93.1% was obtained while, by the one-step pressurization method, the relative density was 76.9%. Direct sample temperature measurements were conducted by inserting a thermocouple in a punch. By the two-step pressurizing method, the sample temperature was higher than that by the one-step pressurizing method even almost the same die temperature. From voltage and current waveforms, it was thought that the conductivity of the sample increased by the two-step pressurizing method to increase the sample temperature and the relative density. The two-step pressurization method enables us to prepare dense targets at a low temperature from recycled and coarse-grained Mo enriched MoO powder.