Resin/phosphor composite scintillator, and scintillator array
The present invention addresses the problem of providing a scintillator which has excellent impact resistance and favorable workability and moldability. The problem is solved by a resin-phosphor composite scintillator which contains a resin and a phosphor and is capable of converting irradiated radiation into visible light. In this composite scintillator, a brightness retention rate, which is measured 24 hours after 38-minute irradiation with an X-ray to a total irradiation dose of 13 kGy at a distance of 40 mm from a radiation source, is 65% or higher; the Rockwell hardness is 30 HRM or higher; and the content of the resin is not less than 10% by weight.
1. A resin-phosphor composite scintillator, comprising:
a resin; and
a phosphor;
wherein:
the scintillator is capable of converting irradiated radiation into visible light;
a brightness retention rate of the scintillator, when measured 24 hours after 38-minute irradiation with an X-ray to a total irradiation dose of 13 kGy at a distance of 40 mm from a radiation source, is 65% or higher;
a Rockwell hardness of the scintillator is 30 HRM or higher;
a content of the resin in the scintillator is not less than 10% by weight;
the resin is a cured product obtained using a cationic polymerization initiator;
the resin comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a hydrogenated epoxy resin and an epoxy silicone resin; and
a content of the cationic polymerization initiator is 1.5 parts by weight or less with respect to 100 parts by weight of resin.
2. The composite scintillator according to claim 1 , which is in the form of a plate having a thickness of 500 μm or greater.
3. The composite scintillator according to claim 1 , wherein the resin has an epoxy equivalent of 190 or more.
4. The composite scintillator according to claim 1 , wherein the resin comprises a cyclic structure which contains no double bond.
5. The composite scintillator according to claim 1 , wherein a content of the phosphor in the scintillator is 30% by weight to 90% by weight.
6. The composite scintillator according to claim 1 , wherein the scintillator exhibits an afterglow of 100 ppm or less after 20 ms when irradiated with a 16-Gy X-ray.
7. The composite scintillator according to claim 1 , wherein the phosphor comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a GOS phosphor, a CWO phosphor, a CsI phosphor, and a GAGG phosphor.
8. The composite scintillator according to claim 1 , wherein the phosphor is in the form of particles.
9. The composite scintillator according to claim 1 , wherein the phosphor has an average particle size of 0.1 μm to 50 μm.
10. A composite scintillator array, comprising a plurality of composite scintillators according to claim 1 , wherein:
the scintillators are arranged linearly in the array;
each scintillator has a size of 10 mm 3 or smaller.
11. The composite scintillator according to claim 1 , wherein the cationic polymerization initiator is a diallylsulfonium salt-based thermal acid generator.