TY - GEN
T1 - Humidity-induced damage in polyvinyl toluene and polystyrene plastic scintillator
AU - Sword, Eric D.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 IEEE.
PY - 2017/6/7
Y1 - 2017/6/7
N2 - Polyvinyl toluene and polystyrene are materials commonly used in plastic scintillators. In recent years, cold weather related performance degradation has been identified in plastic scintillators that are exposed to the environment. Prior exposure to water vapor at high temperatures, in particular, has been identified as a likely culprit. This work subjected a selection of commercially produced polyvinyl toluene and polystyrene plastic scintillator to a controlled high-temperature, high-humidity environment for an extended period of time, followed by exposure to freezing temperatures consistent with performance degradation. Polymethyl methacrylate, which is used as a light guide in detectors, was also subjected to these conditions. Samples were evaluated visually, and weight measurements were taken at regular intervals during and after the environmental exposure.
AB - Polyvinyl toluene and polystyrene are materials commonly used in plastic scintillators. In recent years, cold weather related performance degradation has been identified in plastic scintillators that are exposed to the environment. Prior exposure to water vapor at high temperatures, in particular, has been identified as a likely culprit. This work subjected a selection of commercially produced polyvinyl toluene and polystyrene plastic scintillator to a controlled high-temperature, high-humidity environment for an extended period of time, followed by exposure to freezing temperatures consistent with performance degradation. Polymethyl methacrylate, which is used as a light guide in detectors, was also subjected to these conditions. Samples were evaluated visually, and weight measurements were taken at regular intervals during and after the environmental exposure.
KW - Accelerated aging
KW - Moisture control
KW - Permeability
KW - Plastics
KW - Polymers
KW - Scintillators
KW - Temperature measurement
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85022190560&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/THS.2017.7943440
DO - 10.1109/THS.2017.7943440
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85022190560
T3 - 2017 IEEE International Symposium on Technologies for Homeland Security, HST 2017
BT - 2017 IEEE International Symposium on Technologies for Homeland Security, HST 2017
PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
T2 - 2017 IEEE International Symposium on Technologies for Homeland Security, HST 2017
Y2 - 25 April 2017 through 26 April 2017
ER -