The method of (n-a)-radiography for quantitative determination of boron is based on creation of defective regions (tracks) in a polymer (the detector), which form during passage of a particles through the detector, these particles being produced in the reaction 10B(n, a)7Li when the test specimen in contact with the detector is irradiated with neutrons. Etching of the detector with an appropriate reagent after irradiation reveals defective regions, permitting optical recording of the tracks and subsequent calculation of the concentration of boron in the specimen. Determination of boron inclusions using cellulose acetate was effected in Nb3Al and V3Si, and in glasses. It has been shown that quantitative determination of boron and its spatial distribution in austentic steels is possible with the aid of cellulose acetate and nitrate. The spatial distribution of boron in minerals and rocks has been investigated using cellulose nitrate. In the present work we investigated the possibility of employing (n-a)-radiography for quantitative determination of boron in wood impregnated with boron-containing antiseptics. One of the most important features characterizing the application of this method to wood is that mineralization of the specimens is unnecessary. The specimens analyzed were specimens of birch and aspen, impregnated with BBK-2 solution. The nitro base of AM-1 cine film was employed as the track detector.

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