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Ultra-pure nickel for structural components of low-radioactivity instruments
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Ultra-pure nickel for structural components of low-radioactivity instruments

T.J. Roosendaal, C.T. Overman, G.S. Ortega, T.D. Schlieder, N.D. Rocco, L.K.S. Horkley, K.P. Hobbs, K. Harouaka, J.L. Orrell, P. Acharya, …
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment, v 1087, 171402
01 Jul 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2026.171402
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Abstract

Chemical vapor deposition nickel Low radioactive background instruments Material assay for Th, U, and K Tensile strength
The next generation of nuclear and particle physics rare-event search experiments demand structural materials combining ultra-low levels of radioactive contamination with exceptional mechanical strength. This study evaluates chemical vapor deposition (CVD) nickel as a low radioactive background candidate structural material for such applications. Manufacturer-supplied CVD Ni grown on aluminum substrates was assayed via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) employing isotope-dilution. These material assays produced measured bulk concentration of 232Th, 238U, and natK at the levels of ∼70 ppq, ≲100 ppq, and ∼900 ppt, respectively, which is the lowest reported in nickel. Surface-etch profiling uncovered higher concentrations of these contaminants extending ∼10μm beneath the surface, likely associated with the aluminum growth substrate. Additionally, the CVD Ni underwent tensile testing alongside standard Ni samples. CVD Ni exhibited a planar tensile strength of ∼600 MPa, significantly surpassing standard nickel. However, heat treatment was found to reduce the tensile strength to levels comparable to standard Ni, with implications for high-temperature weld joining methods. The results reported are compared to the one other well documented usage of CVD Ni in a low radioactive background physics research experiment and a discussion is provided on how the currently reported results may arise from changes in CVD fabrication or testing process. These results establish CVD Ni as a promising low-radioactivity structural material, while outlining the need for further development in surface cleaning and weld-joining techniques to fully realize its potential in large-scale, low radioactive background rare-event search experiments.

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