30 Years of IRMM-1027 Reference Materials for Fissile Material Accountancy and Control: Development, Production and Characterisation

The IRMM-1027 Large-sized dried (LSD) spikes are certified reference materials applied to measure the uranium and plutonium content of dissolved fuel solutions using isotope dilution mass spectrometry. High quality starting metals of uranium and plutonium are dissolved to produce a stock solution, which is dispensed into individual vials and dried down. The present spikes are mixtures of typically 50 mg 20% enriched U and 2 mg enriched 239Pu as dried nitrates, conditioned in an organic substance for stability. Each vial of an IRMM-1027 LSD spike comes with certified masses of uranium (235U and 238U) and 239Pu and isotopic composition with associated uncertainty. This article will discuss major developments since the production of the first batch of LSD spikes and will reflect on the current preparation and certification approaches.