Teflon Examination

Technical Report · Thu Apr 27 00:00:00 EDT 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1368026· OSTI ID:1368026

Dooraghi, A. A. ^[1]; Seetho, I. ^[1]; Smith, J.. A. ^[1]; Brown, W. D. ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

In this document, we outline an experiment performed at LLNL to evaluate the radiation sensitivity of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and a PTFE isomer, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP). We demonstrate that PTFE, a material currently used for assessing MicroCT system stability, shows higher radiation-dependent change in x-ray attenuation than FEP. Specifically, for a dose of approximately 1.44 x 10³ Gy, the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) of PTFE changes by 0.8 ± 0.1 %. During the same irradiation period, the LAC for FEP changes by 0.02 ± 0.1 %, which is within the statistical uncertainty of the measurement. Due to its higher resistance to radiation damage, we recommend that LLNL and partner labs operating under the Department of Homeland Security’s Explosives Division (DHS EXD) transition to the use of FEP as a reference material in place of PTFE.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-07NA27344
• OSTI ID: 1368026
• Report Number(s): LLNL-TR-730131
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION