Americium was first produced in a nuclear reactor. A nuclear reactor is a device in which elements are bombarded by neutrons, sometimes forming new elements. Americium is a silvery-white metal with a melting point of about 1,175 degrees and a density of about 13,6 grams per cubic centimeter. A number of compounds have been produced and studied, but only one isotope has significant practical use outside the laboratory (the americium-241 isotope).
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All transuranium elements, including americium, are produced synthetically. None of these exist in nature.
All isotopes of americium are radioactive. The most stable is the americium-241 isotope. A radioactive isotope is an isotope that breaks down and emits some form of radiation.
Americium-241 is the only americium isotope that is useful. When it decays, it emits both alpha rays and gamma rays. Alpha rays don't travel very far in the air, but gamma rays are very penetrating, like X-rays. Gamma rays from Americium-241 are used in portable X-ray machines used in oil fields, for example, to help determine where new wells should be drilled.
Americium-241 is also used to measure the thickness of materials. It is also most commonly used in certain types of smoke detectors.
In the tests and analyzes carried out in our organization, which has a wide range of technological equipment, trained and experienced staff and applies the most modern methods, national and international standards and legal regulations in force are complied with. Among the numerous tests carried out in this context, there are also americium (Am) testing services within the framework of elemental analysis.
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