Boron loaded scintillator
A scintillating composition for detecting neutrons and other radiation comprises a phenyl containing silicone rubber with carborane units and at least one phosphor molecule. The carborane units can either be a carborane molecule dispersed in the rubber with the aid of a compatiblization agent or can be covalently bound to the silicone.
1. A scintillating composition for detecting radiation, comprising:
a phenyl containing silicone rubber;
carborane units associated with said silicone rubber;
at least one phosphor molecule; and a compatiblization agent to incorporate said carborane units, wherein said compatiblization agent is tributyl phosphate.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein a boron concentration by weight of said scintillating composition is at least 3.5%.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the boron concentration by weight of said composition is at least 5.5%.
4. A scintillating composition for detecting radiation, comprising:
a carborane bound phenylsilicone rubber, and
at least one phosphor molecule, wherein said carborane bound phenylsilicone rubber comprises:
at least one siloxane unit comprising a carborane covalently bonded to a silicon atom, and
at least one phenyl containing siloxane unit selected from the group consisting of a methylhydrosiloxane-phenylmethylsiloxane copolymer, a dimethylsiloxane-diphenylsiloxane copolymer, and a combination thereof.
5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein said carborane bound phenylsilicone rubber comprises at least one siloxane unit comprising 1,7-bis(1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxan-yl)carborane.
6. The composition of claim 4 , wherein said carborane bound phenylsilicone rubber comprises both a methylhydrosiloxane-phenylmethylsiloxane copolymer siloxane unit and a dimethylsiloxane-diphenylsiloxane copolymer siloxane unit.
7. The composition of claim 6 , wherein said carborane bound phenylsilicone rubber further comprises at least one siloxane unit comprising 1,7-bis(1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxan-yl)carborane.
8. The composition of claim 4 , wherein a boron concentration by weight of said scintillating composition is at least 3.5%.
9. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the boron concentration by weight of said composition is at least 5.5%.
10. The composition of claim 4 , wherein said composition is formed into fibers.
11. A method of forming a scintillating composition for detecting radiation, comprising:
forming a phenyl and carborane containing silicone rubber according to claim 4 by polymerizing a mixture comprising:
(a) a carborane comprising siloxane precursor terminated with a hydride functionality;
(b) a carborane comprising siloxane precursor terminated with a vinyl functionality;
(c) at least one phosphor molecule; and
(d) at least one phenyl containing siloxane unit selected from the group consisting of a methylhydrosiloxane-phenylmethylsiloxane copolymer, a dimethylsiloxane-diphenylsiloxane copolymer, and a combination thereof.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said carborane comprising siloxane precursor terminated with a hydride functionality is 1,7-bis-(3-hydro-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxan-yl)carborane.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said carborane comprising siloxane precursor terminated with a vinyl functionality is 1,7-bis-(3-vinyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxan-yl)carborane.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein (d) comprises both a methylhydrosiloxane-phenylmethylsiloxane copolymer and dimethylsiloxane-diphenylsiloxane copolymer.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said carborane comprising siloxane precursor terminated with a hydride functionality is 1,7-bis-(3-hydro-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxan-yl)carborane.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein said carborane comprising siloxane precursor terminated with a vinyl functionality is 1,7-bis-(3-vinyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxan-yl)carborane.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein said carborane comprising siloxane precursor terminated with a hydride functionality is 1,7-bis-(3-hydro-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxan-yl)carborane; and wherein said carborane comprising siloxane precursor terminated with a vinyl functionality is 1,7-bis-(3-vinyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxan-yl)carborane.
18. A method of detecting radiation, comprising the steps of:
providing a scintillating composition for radiation detection comprising a scintillating composition for radiation detection of claim 1 or a scintillating composition for radiation detection of claim 4 ; and
disposing said composition in the path of a beam of radiation, wherein said phosphor molecule emits light when said composition absorbs said radiation.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising detecting light emitted by said phosphor molecule using a photosensor.