ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Apr 2026
Jan 2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
May 2026
Nuclear Technology
February 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
DTRA’s advancements in nuclear and radiological detection
A new, more complex nuclear age has begun. Echoing the tensions of the Cold War amid rapidly evolving nuclear and radiological threats, preparedness in the modern age is a contest of scientific innovation. The Research and Development Directorate (RD) at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is charged with winning this contest.
Paul Day, Mark Cutkosky, Anastasia McLaughlin
Nuclear Technology | Volume 180 | Number 3 | December 2012 | Pages 450-455
Technical Note | Special Issue on the Initial Release of MCNP6 / Radioisotopes | doi.org/10.13182/NT12-A15356
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Irradiation of polymer-based directional dry adhesives with gamma photons has been performed. This irradiation is commensurate with the radiation that an adhesive sample would be exposed to if deployed in a nuclear glove box or other high-radiation environment. Before and after irradiation, samples were tested using a three-axis adhesive testing stage and were analyzed via a scanning electron microscope and a water droplet contact angle analyzer. At doses in excess of 270 kGy, the adhesive performance began to deteriorate, continuing to an overall performance reduction of 55% at a dose of [approximately]500 kGy. Significant changes in the surface energy of the bulk polymer are also indicated by changes in water droplet contact angles, contributing to the adhesion performance loss. Such analyses allow for quantitative statements to be made about the expected performance of these adhesives when deployed in high-radiation environments.