Boron containing organic/hybrid scintillation materials for gamma and neutron detection
The invention is directed to a method for making a boron containing compound, a method for making a plastic scintillator and a method for forming a neutron detecting material, and the materials made therein. Methods of use are also disclosed.
1. A method of preparing a neutron sensitive material that is adapted to measure neutron or gamma radiation, comprising:
providing a boron containing material; providing a dopant, comprising a scintillating fluorescent or scintillating phosphorescent, wherein the dopant is of the formula C x H y B z O a and wherein the dopant does not contain 3 He,
where x is between 22 and 40,
y is between 21 and 54,
z is between 1 and 4,
a is between 2 and 8;
providing a plastic material;
reacting the boron containing material, the dopant, and the plastic material to form a clear mixture.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising mixing a catalyst, a base, and an arylhalide with the clear mixture.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the catalyst is a palladium, a nickel, an iridium, a copper, a ruthenium, a platinum and combinations thereof.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the mixing occurs in the absence of oxygen.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the boron containing material is at least one of B 2 Pin 2 , TBP, 124TrBB, 135TrBB, and TBB.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neutron sensitive material is a chemical comprising boron and oxygen.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the clear mixture is subjected to a temperature between about 75° C. to about 95° C.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the clear mixture is exposed to the temperature for between about 720 minutes to about 2160 minutes.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the clear mixture is maintained at the temperature in an oven.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the clear mixture is heated to a temperature between about 120° C. to about 135° C. in a microwave.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein an excess of the boron containing material is provided in the clear mixture.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the boron containing material to the plastic material is between about 1:5 to about 1:99.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising mixing the neutron sensitive material with a plastic material.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming the boron containing material, a boron source and a plastic material.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing an initiator selected from the group consisting of a poly(styrene), a poly(4-vinyltoluene), and a poly(methyl methacrylate); and
reacting the initiator, the boron containing material, the dopant, and the plastic material to form the clear mixture.
16. A neutron sensitive dopant for use in neutron and gamma detection of the formula C x H y B z O a and wherein the dopant does not contain 3 He
where x is between 22 and 40,
y is between 21 and 54,
z is between 1 and 4,
a is between 2 and 8.
17. The neutron sensitive dopant of claim 16 , wherein a chemical formula of the dopant is C 12 H 24 B 2 O 4 .
18. The neutron sensitive dopant of claim 16 , wherein a weight percent of the boron is between about 3.29 to about 8.51.
19. A method of detecting neutrons, comprising: exposing an object or area suspected of containing neutrons to an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises a plastic and neutron sensitive dopant is of a chemical formula of formula C x H y B z O a and does not contain 3 He; and
where x is between 22 and 40,
y is between 21 and 54,
z is between 1 and 4,
a is between 2 and 8
detecting a level of neutrons present in the object or area.
20. The method of detecting neutrons of claim 19 , wherein the object or area is selected from an oil and gas operation, a person, a cargo material, a reactor area, a laboratory, and airport security.