Defect-resistant plastic scintillation radiation detector compositions and fabrication methods

1. A scintillating plastic resistant to crazing and fogging, the scintillating plastic comprising:

one or more primary polymers present in an amount ranging from about 40 wt % to about 95 wt %;

one or more secondary polymers present in an amount ranging from about 1 wt % to about 60 wt %, wherein the one or more secondary polymers comprise a cross-linker and a polymer; and

one or more fluors present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 wt % to about 50 wt %.

2. The scintillating plastic as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more primary polymers are selected from the group consisting of: polyvinyl toluene (PVT), polystyrene (PS), poly(α-methylstyrene), a polymer formed by polymerizing dimethylstyrene, and a polymer formed by polymerizing trimethylstyrene.

3. The scintillating plastic as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least some of the primary polymers are crosslinked to at least some of the polymer of the secondary polymers via the cross-linker.

4. The scintillating plastic as recited in claim 3 , wherein the cross-linker is selected from the group consisting of: divinylbenzene (DVB), ethylene glycol diacrylate, ethylene glycol derivatives, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate derivatives.

5. The scintillating plastic as recited in claim 1 , wherein the polymer of the one or more secondary polymers is selected from the group consisting of: acrylic acid and derivatives thereof; methacrylic acid and derivatives thereof; and oxygen-bearing allyls.

6. The scintillating plastic as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluors comprise:

a primary fluor present in an amount ranging from about 1 wt % to about 50 wt %; and

a secondary fluor present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 wt % to about 1 wt %.

7. The scintillating plastic as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluors are selected from a group consisting of: 2,5-diphenyl oxazole (PPO); para-terphenyl; 2-(4-Biphenylyl)-5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD); 1,4-Bis(2-methylstyryl)benzene (Bis-MSB); 1,4-bis(5-phenyloxazol-2-yl) benzene (POPOP); 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA); and 7-diethylamino-4-methylcoumarin (MDAC).

8. The scintillating plastic as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more primary polymers and the one or more secondary polymers are present in amounts satisfying a ratio ranging from about 95:5 to about 50:50 of the primary polymers to the secondary polymers.

9. The scintillating plastic as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cross-linker comprises divinylbenzene (DVB);

wherein the polymer comprises polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA); and

wherein the cross-linker and the polymer are present in equal amounts.

10. The scintillating plastic as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least some of the primary polymers are crosslinked to one another via the cross-linker; and

wherein at least some of the polymer of the secondary polymers are crosslinked to one another via the cross-linker.

11. The scintillating plastic as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more primary polymers comprise polyvinyl toluene (PVT) and/or polystyrene (PS);

wherein the one or more secondary polymers comprise polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA);

wherein at least some of the primary polymers are crosslinked to at least some of the polymer of the secondary polymers via the cross-linker; and

wherein the cross-linker comprises divinylbenzene (DVB).

12. The scintillating plastic as recited in claim 11 , wherein the one or more fluors comprise:

PPO as a primary fluor; and

a secondary fluor comprising either bis-MSB or POPOP.

13. The scintillating plastic as recited in claim 12 , wherein the PPO is present in an amount of about 1 wt %; and

wherein the secondary fluor is present in an amount from about 0.2 wt % to about 0.5 wt %.

14. A method of forming a scintillating plastic resistant to crazing and fogging, the method comprising:

creating a homogenous mixture of precursor materials, the homogenous mixture comprising:

one or more primary polymers or monomers present in an amount ranging from about 40 wt % to about 99 wt %;

one or more secondary polymers or monomers present in an amount ranging from about 1 wt % to about 60 wt %, wherein the one or more secondary polymers or monomers comprise a cross-linker; and

one or more fluors present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 wt % to about 50 wt %; and

polymerizing the homogenous mixture, wherein the polymerizing comprises:

incubating the homogenous mixture at a temperature of approximately 60° C. for a period of approximately 1 day;

incubating the homogenous mixture at a temperature of approximately 65° C. for a period of approximately 1 day; and

incubating the homogenous mixture at a temperature of approximately 70° C. for a period of approximately 4 days.

15. A method, comprising:

exposing a scintillating plastic to one or more extreme environmental conditions for at least two hours without generating crazing or fogging within the scintillating plastic; and

wherein the extreme environmental conditions comprise: a temperature swing of about 20° C. or more; and exposure to humidity in an amount of about 70% or more.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the scintillating plastic comprises:

one or more primary polymers present in an amount ranging from about 40 wt % to about 99 wt %;

one or more secondary polymers present in an amount ranging from about 1 wt % to about 60 wt %, wherein the one or more secondary polymers comprise a cross-linker; and

one or more fluors present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 wt % to about 50 wt %; and

wherein at least some of the primary polymers are crosslinked to at least some of the secondary polymers via the cross-linker.

17. A scintillating plastic resistant to crazing and fogging, the scintillating plastic comprising:

one or more primary polymers present in an amount ranging from about 40 wt % to about 95 wt %;

one or more secondary polymers present in an amount ranging from about 1 wt % to about 60 wt %; and

one or more fluors present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 wt % to about 50 wt %; and

wherein the one or more fluors comprise 7-diethylamino-4-methylcoumarin (MDAC).