6Li Embedded Biaxially Stretched Scintillation Films for Thermal Neutron Detection and Neutron/Gamma Discrimination1. Issue 2 (31st October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Uppal, Rohit; Sen, Indraneel; Penumadu, Dayakar; Young, Stephen A.; Urffer, Matthew J.; Miller, Laurence F.
• Is Part Of: Advanced engineering materials. Volume 16:Issue 2(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 196
• Page End: 201
• Publication Date: 2013-10-31
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adem.201300237
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1438-1656

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="adem201300237-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>Biaxially stretched composite polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) films (BSCPF) embedded with submicron lithium fluoride (⁶LiF) particles and luminescent molecules were fabricated to make large area scintillation films (≈1 m × 1 m) for thermal neutron detection. BSCPF had 20.2% higher neutron light yield as compared to unstretched composite film (UCPF), and were 2.46 ± 1.47 times more efficient for detecting thermal neutrons than lithiated glass GS20 above lower level discriminator corresponding to an intrinsic efficiency for gamma &lt;10⁻⁶. MCNPX simulations for a layered BSCPF detector resulted 6.1 cps for 1 ng ²⁵²Cf, thus meeting the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory criteria for absolute neutron detection efficiency and intrinsic gamma‐neutron discrimination. BSCPF have alpha to beta ratio of 0.25, which is higher than that for UCPF (0.11), and also for GS20 (0.22), which offers the possibility of excellent neutron/gamma discrimination.</p> </sec> </abstract>