Plastic scintillators with high loading of one or more metal carboxylates
View Patent ↗According to one embodiment, a method includes incorporating a metal carboxylate complex into a polymeric matrix to form an optically transparent material. According to another embodiment, a material includes at least one metal carboxylate complex incorporated into a polymeric matrix, where the material is optically transparent.
1. A method, comprising:
incorporating a metal carboxylate complex into a polymeric matrix to form an optically transparent material; and
wherein the metal carboxylate complex comprises a metal and at least one carboxylate ligand comprising a tertiary butyl group.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the carboxylate ligand comprising the tertiary butyl group includes pivalate.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the metal comprises bismuth.
4. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the metal comprises lithium.
5. The method as recited in claim 2 , further comprising forming the metal carboxylate complex, wherein forming the metal carboxylate complex includes combining pivalic acid with a precursor compound comprising the metal.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the metal carboxylate complex is chemically incorporated into the polymeric matrix.
7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein incorporating the metal carboxylate complex into the polymeric matrix includes at least one of:
copolymerization, and crosslinking.
8. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the optically transparent material comprises at least one of: a polymerization initiator and a cross-linker.
9. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the polymeric matrix comprises at least one of: poly-styrene, poly-vinyltoluene, poly-vinyltriphenylamine, poly(ethylene-2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate), poly(ethylene terephthalate), polymethylmethacrylate, functionalized polymethacrylate, methacrylic acid and poly-9-vinylcarbazole.
10. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising dispersing at least one fluor in the material, the fluor having an emission rating of greater than about 3,000 photons/MeV.
11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the fluor includes at least one of: an organometallic fluor, and an organic fluor.
12. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the material exhibits an optical response signature for at least one of: thermal neutrons, fast neutrons and gamma rays.
13. The method as recited in claim 12 , further comprising applying a coating to at least one surface of the material, the coating being configured to exhibit an optical response signature for thermal neutrons.
14. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the coating comprises a phosphor combined with at least one of: 6 Li, 10 B, Cd and Gd.
15. A material, comprising:
at least one metal carboxylate complex incorporated into a polymeric matrix, wherein the metal carboxylate complex comprises a metal and at least one carboxylate ligand comprising a tertiary butyl group; and
wherein the material is optically transparent.
16. A scintillator, comprising:
the material as recited in claim 15 , wherein the scintillator exhibits an optical response signature for at least one of: thermal neutrons, fast neutrons and gamma rays.
17. The scintillator as recited in claim 16 , wherein at least one surface of the scintillator is coated with a coating configured to exhibit an optical response signature for thermal neutrons, wherein the coating comprises a phosphor combined with at least one of 6 Li, 10 B, Cd and Gd.
18. A scintillator radiation detector system, comprising:
the scintillator as recited in claim 15 ; and
a processing device configured to process pulse traces corresponding to light pulses from the scintillator.