Isotope Research Materials Laboratory
Isotope Research Materials Laboratory
The Isotope Research Materials Laboratory (IRML) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory provides enriched stable isotopes to the medical, industrial, national security, and scientific communities. The IRML team manages and distributes the DOE stable isotope inventory consisting of more than 3,500 quality-controlled batches of 306 stable isotopes of approximately 79 elements.
The batches are stored in chemically stable forms and are readily available for delivery. Ongoing research and development of solid and gaseous processing techniques enables the team to transform valuable enriched isotopes into both chemical and physical forms that support cutting edge research.
Specifications
Services and Applications
Services and Applications
With an exceptional level of precision and expertise, the IRML team performs small-batch conversion and manufacturing of very reactive alkaline, alkaline earth, transition, and rare earth elements as isotopic materials to customer specifications. These services include:
- Conversion of inorganic chemicals
- Wire casting, rolling, and swaging processes
- Ion beam and plasma sputtering
- Enriched isotopic gas handling and shipping
The applications are:
- Stable isotope precursors (for example, Yb-176) for nuclear reactor- and accelerator-produced radiopharmaceuticals
- Direct medical applications (for example, Xe-129 for pulmonary imaging)
- Target materials for nuclear physics and other scientific research (for example, Ru-96)
- Multiple isotopes are vital to protecting the nation from physical threats
IRML products are produced in compliance with the ISO 9001:2015 standard.