Methacrylate based cross-linkers for improved thermomechanical properties and retention of radiation detection response in plastic scintillators

Mahl, Adam; Lim, Allison; Latta, J.; Yemam, Henok A.; Greife, U.; Sellinger, Alan

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2017.11.091

Cited by 18 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…All 20 g samples in this study were overdoped (>20 wt %) with PPO to distinguish between neutrons and gamma rays via PSD, as discussed in our previous work . For example, with 20, 25, and 30 wt % PPO, photopolymerized plastic scintillators show evidence of PSD capabilities based on the separation of neutron and gamma ray signals in Figure , quantified by the FoM.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…To facilitate efficient photoinitiation, we selected a crosslinker that would incorporate the more photoactive methacrylate group. Our previous work has shown BPA‐DM increases the hardness of the plastic but does not negatively affect any of the radiation response . Combining 1 wt % of the established PI system with varying concentrations of BPA‐DM and PPO, we fabricated clear and colorless 6 g PVT plastics after 2 h of 470 nm light exposure followed by a 24 h, 70 °C post‐cure under reduced argon pressure.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Radiation responses were measured and quantified as detailed in our previous work . Samples were wrapped with PTFE tape, coupled to a Hamamatsu photomultiplier tube (H2431‐50) with optical grade silicone grease, then enclosed in a light‐tight wrap.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Samples were also exposed to a mixed gamma/neutron radiation field using a 244 Cm/ 13 C source (~60 mCi) for 20 min to determine PSD capabilities quantified by the dimensionless figure of merit (FoM) metric:

FoM = \frac{{Centroid}_{n} - {Centroid}_{g}}{{FWHM}_{n} + {FWHM}_{g}}

where n and g refer to the neutron and gamma signals, respectively. Further details on the calculation of the FoM can be found in our previous work …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Plastic scintillators are often based on vinyl toluene (VT) or styrene monomers which are more difficult to photopolymerize than methacrylate monomers . In our recent work, we demonstrated bisphenol A dimethacrylate (BPA‐DM) (Figure ) can be used as a crosslinker in PVT‐based scintillators without diminishing its radiation detection properties . Based on these results, we report here the use of CQ‐DMABN to initiate the photopolymerization of BPA‐DM in VT to fabricate PSD capable scintillators in a ~1‐day process, as opposed to the traditional ~5‐day thermal bulk polymerization.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

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Plastic scintillators with efficient light output and pulse shape discrimination produced via photoinitiated polymerization

Lim

Mahl

Latta

et al. 2018

J of Applied Polymer Sci

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Poly(vinyl toluene) (PVT) overdoped with 2,5-diphenyloxazole and using 1,4-bis(5-phenyloxazol-2-yl)benzene as a fluorescent secondary dopant can be used to detect and differentiate neutron and gamma radiation via scintillation. The low cost of PVT makes these plastic scintillators attractive for both portable and larger sized first line detection of special nuclear materials. Current fabrication methods rely on thermally initiated radical polymerization that generally requires an approximately 5-day heating process in order to produce high quality scintillators. In this work, we report a proof-of-concept photopolymerization process to prepare plastic scintillators up to 20 g in size in 1 day. These plastic scintillators were comparable to standard thermally polymerized samples in terms of their physical properties and response to various radiation sources.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

FoM = \frac{{Centroid}_{n} - {Centroid}_{g}}{{FWHM}_{n} + {FWHM}_{g}}

where n and g refer to the neutron and gamma signals, respectively. Further details on the calculation of the FoM can be found in our previous work …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Plastic scintillators with efficient light output and pulse shape discrimination produced via photoinitiated polymerization

Lim

Mahl

Latta

et al. 2018

J of Applied Polymer Sci

Self Cite

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Tuning the index of refraction of a polyvinyl toluene and polystyrene copolymer toward a heterogenous, index‐matched neutron detector

Thorum

Allred

Pitt

et al. 2022

J of Applied Polymer Sci

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One class of neutron detectors for illicit nuclear materials are capture‐gated detectors, which use organic scintillators to slow neutrons while emitting fluorescent light and elements that have high neutron capture cross‐sections to provide a second signal. Homogeneous detectors composed of neutron capturing metallo‐organics within plastic darken due to their chemical instability, while heterogeneous detectors frequently result in non‐transparent material due to a mismatch of the refractive index. These detectors are often polymerized through bulk polymerization, but there is little data available on this process applied to mixtures of polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl toluene (PVT), two commonly used polymers in plastic scintillators. This work presents bulk polymerization processing toward an index‐matched, heterogeneous capture‐gated neutron detector based on PS and PVT copolymers with a range of refractive indices. Specifically 1:3, 1:1, and 3:1 PS:PVT ratios were manufactured and their refractive indices, measured by refractometry, were compared to a theoretical model based on a mixture of the refractive indices of pure PS and PVT. Finally, a composite of PS/PVT and an Ohara S‐BAL42 glass was developed to confirm the index‐matching capability of the process as a step toward developing a heterogenous, capture‐gated neutron detector with high light transmission efficiencies allowed by index‐matched materials.

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Introduction—Overview on Plastic and Inorganic Scintillators

Dujardin

2021

Topics in Applied Physics

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Methacrylate based cross-linkers for improved thermomechanical properties and retention of radiation detection response in plastic scintillators

Cited by 18 publications

References 18 publications

Plastic scintillators with efficient light output and pulse shape discrimination produced via photoinitiated polymerization

Plastic scintillators with efficient light output and pulse shape discrimination produced via photoinitiated polymerization

Tuning the index of refraction of a polyvinyl toluene and polystyrene copolymer toward a heterogenous, index‐matched neutron detector

Introduction—Overview on Plastic and Inorganic Scintillators

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