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Newsletter:  October 2003/ Issue 5
Rapid Detection of Strategic and Dual-Use Material

by Lesley Snowden-Swan, PNWCGS Staff

Several countries worldwide are now employing the Material Identification System (Material ID) for inspection of metals and other conductive materials of concern at international borders. The Material ID system, developed by scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), is a portable instrument that enables a border inspector or other field agent to rapidly and non-intrusively identify dual-use, strategic and other controlled and high-value materials.

Dual-use materials are materials that are commonly found in industry but which can also be associated with the production of weapons of mass destruction. They are subject to international control regimes associated with nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and missile delivery systems (e.g. Nuclear Suppliers Group, Australia Group, and Missile Technology Control Regime). Recent events such as those of September 11 and the Iraq war, have intensified concerns over the possible transport of weapons-related materials worldwide and heightened the need for on-the-spot inspections to detect strategic and dual-use materials.

For on-the-spot inspections, an accurate and timely method of determining the presence of controlled materials is essential. Many of the metals contained on the dual-use lists and the nuclear trigger list are indiscernible in appearance from common materials, making visual detection of controlled commodities difficult or impossible. Alternatively, the time and cost necessary for sample collection and off-site analysis can be impractical. The Material ID provides a rapid, highly accurate and inexpensive alternative to both visual inspection and direct sample collection and analysis.

The Material ID system consists of a small sensor probe and a personal digital assistant-based device with custom acquisition and analysis technology, developed by scientists at PNNL. Employing eddy current technology, the system detects the presence of materials based on their electrical conductivity. Metals and other materials (such as graphite) conduct electricity in varying degrees, providing an electrical conductivity “fingerprint.”

“When the system probe is held in ambient air, it responds with specific electrical impedance. When the user moves the probe close to or touches an object that conducts electricity, the electrical impedance of the probe changes,” explained Kurt Silvers, Material ID project manager at PNNL.

Since the electrical conductivity of a material is temperature dependent, the probe simultaneously provides a temperature reading for the material. These two pieces of information—the change in electrical impedance and the temperature—are converted to an electrical conductivity value and this value is compared to a library of “fingerprint” values in the system’s database to identify the materials present, the results of which are immediately displayed on the lap-top screen.

The system’s user interface allows an inspector to rapidly sort a large number of items into groups of “like” and “unlike” (comparison mode); verify that a material has been properly declared (verification mode); and identify an undeclared or unknown material (identification mode). Approximately 50 materials are currently contained in the Material ID library of signature values; however, the system is designed to connect remotely online and download material signatures.

According to Bill Cliff, manager of PNNL’s International Border Security Training, research for the original Material ID system began after the U.S. Customs service expressed interest in the ability of eddy current technology to sort metals. A prototype was first built and tested domestically for tariff and duty control. Later, the Departments of Defense and State funded projects for applications to national security, specifically aimed at preventing dissemination of materials related to weapons of mass destruction from countries of the former Soviet Union. Subsequent generations have been fielded in 12-15 Eastern and Central European nations as well as Asia and Cyprus and Malta according to Dr. Richard Pappas, lead developer for the system. The project was most recently funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) for national security purposes and has been used to help control surplus materials at DOE sites.

The technology is also a primary advanced detection technology used in the PNNL Interdict/RADACAD International Border Security Training conducted at DOE’s Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response (HAMMER) Training Center.

Funded by NNSA (Second Line of Defense), State, Customs and DoD, this program trains U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers as well as Central and Eastern European and former Soviet Union border-enforcement officials to deal with all aspects of smuggling related to weapons of mass destruction.

More information concerning the Material ID system can be found at the Interdict/RADACAD training site at: http://www.pnl.gov/interdict/training/curriculum.html.