METHOD OF PREPARING IRRADIATION TARGETS FOR RADIOISOTOPE PRODUCTION AND IRRADIATION TARGET

The invention provides a method of preparing irradiation targets for radioisotope production in instrumentation tubes of a nuclear power reactor, the method comprising the steps of : providing a powder consisting of an oxide of a rare earth metal having a purity of greater than 99% and, optionally, an organic binder; pelletizing the powder and optionally the organic binder to form a substantially spherical green body having a diameter of from between 1 to 10 mm; and sintering the spherical green body in solid phase at a temperature of at least 70 percent of a solidus temperature of the rare earth metal oxide powder and for a time sufficient to form a round sintered rare earth metal oxide target having a sintered density of at least 80 percent of the theoretical density.