Determination of boron in iron-based metallic glasses by neutron irradiation and alpha-particle track recording in cellulose nitrate

A method for determination of the boron concentration in Fe−Ni−B metallic glasses has been developed. A solution of the alloy is irradiated with neutrons from a 10 μg²⁵²Cf neutron source and the alpha-activity due to the reaction¹⁰B(n, α)⁷Li is recorded by a cellulose nitrate alpha-track detector immersed in the solution. After the exposure the alpha-tracks are made visible in a microscope by etching the cellulose nitrate film in hot NaOH and the track density is determined.