The development of an energy-independent personnel neutron dosimeter using CR-39

Miscellaneous · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5645224

Doremus, S W

The addition of specialized (n,{alpha}) radiators to a standard polyethylene/CR-39 (PE/CR-39) neutron dosimetry system was evaluated for improved response to low energy neutrons. Specialized radiators consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol) complexed with boron (natural and enriched boron-10) and poly(acrylic acid) complexed with lithium (enriched lithium-6) were evaluated. The complexion of boron with poly(vinyl alcohol) was accomplished by incorporation or surface coating. The complexion of lithium with poly(acrylic acid) was exclusively performed by incorporation. The dosimeter was designed such that the specialized radiator was in contact with the CR-39 detector (i.e., the specialized radiator was sandwiched between the CR-39 detector and polyethylene radiator). The neutron response of this dosimetry system was investigated using {sup 252}Cf (moderated and bare) spontaneous fission neutrons. Detectors were chemically etched and then read with a Nikon OPTIPHOT microscope. The mean response (tracks {center dot} field{sup {minus}1}) of detectors treated with specialized (n,{alpha}) radiators were evaluated against PE/CR-39 controls. The results of this investigation demonstrate that PE/CR-39 dosimeters equipped with specialized (n,{alpha}) radiators have a noticeable response to low energy neutrons that in many instances is significantly greater than that of the controls. The addition of specialized radiators to this dosimetry system did not effect (diminish) its response to fast neutrons.

• Research Organization: Purdue Univ., Indianapolis, IN (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5645224
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DOSEMETERS
DESIGN
EVALUATION
NEUTRON DOSIMETRY
BORON
CALIFORNIUM 252
CHROMIUM ISOTOPES
PERSONNEL DOSIMETRY
POLYETHYLENES
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SPONTANEOUS FISSION
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CALIFORNIUM ISOTOPES
DECAY
DOSIMETRY
ELEMENTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FISSION
FUNCTIONS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NUCLEAR DECAY
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
RADIOISOTOPES
SEMIMETALS
SPONTANEOUS FISSION RADIOISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
440102* - Radiation Instrumentation- Radiation Dosemeters