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Title: PVC extrusion development and production for the NOvA neutrino experiment

Journal Article · · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
 [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [3];  [3];  [4]; ORCiD logo [3]
  1. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Lemont, IL (United States)
  2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Lemont, IL (United States); Winona State Univ., Winona, MN (United States)
  3. Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
  4. Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States); Extrutech Plastics, Inc., Manitowoc, WI (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

We have produced large and highly-reflective open-cell PVC extrusions for the NOvA neutrino oscillation experiment. The extrusions were sealed, instrumented, assembled into self-supporting detector blocks, and filled with liquid scintillator. Each Far Detector block stands 15.7 m high, is 15.7 m wide and 2.1 m thick. More than 22,000 extrusions were produced with high dimensional tolerance and robust mechanical strength. This paper provides an overview of the NOvA Far Detector, describes the preparation of the custom PVC powder, and the making of the extrusions. As a result, quality control was a key element in the production and is described in detail.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11359
OSTI ID:
1336429
Report Number(s):
FERMILAB-PUB-15-049-ND-PPD; arXiv:1601.00908; 1413107
Journal Information:
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 861, Issue C; ISSN 0168-9002
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 9 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (5)

The NOvA experiment: status and outlook journal February 2013
The development of poly(vinyl chloride) extrusions for a 14,000-ton self-supporting structure for the detection of neutrinos journal December 2014
Construction of PVC Extrusions for the NOνA Near and Far Detectors journal January 2012
Experimental study and computer simulation of the effect of spider shape on the weld-lines in extruded plastic pipe journal September 1998
Evaluation of Mechanical Properties at the Knit Line Interface in a Complex Multi-Cell PVC Extrusion
  • Grudzinski, J. J.; Fischer, R.; Talaga, R. L.
  • ASME 2014 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Volume 14: Emerging Technologies; Engineering Management, Safety, Ethics, Society, and Education; Materials: Genetics to Structures https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2014-40217
conference March 2015

Cited By (2)

Observation of seasonal variation of atmospheric multiple-muon events in the NOvA Near Detector journal June 2019
Search for active-sterile neutrino mixing using neutral-current interactions in NOvA text January 2017

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Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
PVC
plastic
extrusions
neutrino detector