IRMM-1000a and IRMM-1000b: uranium reference materials certified for the production date based on the 230Th/234U radiochronometer Part II: Certification

Abstract

The IRMM-1000a and IRMM-1000b uranium reference materials, of 20 mg uranium and 50 mg uranium, respectively, were produced by the European Commission Joint Research Centre’s Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (EC-JRC-IRMM) in collaboration with the Institute for Transuranium Elements (EC-JRC-ITU). They are the first uranium reference materials certified for the production date based on the 230Th/234U radiochronometer, i.e. the date of the last chemical separation of these two radionuclides. Such certified reference materials (CRMs) are required for proper validation of measurement procedures in Nuclear Forensics in order to determine the "age" of uranium samples and to establish traceability of the measurement results to the SI. The certified reference value and its uncertainty, homogeneity and stability of the material were established in accordance with the ISO Guide 34:2009 and the 'Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement'.