Radiation-induced chemical processes in polystyrene scintillators

The regularities established for macroradical accumulation and intensity of radioluminescence under gamma-irradiation of a polystyrene scintillator pr ove benzyl macroradicals to be efficient quenchers of the excited scintilla tor molecules. Dissolved oxygen was determined to have a constant of the qu enching rate 100 times lower than that of macroradicals. Oxygen is an effic ient antirad because of participating in oxidation reactions and subsequent recombination of macroradicals. The method was developed to obtain a polym eric scintillator with a polystyrene matrix containing a dispersed system o f pores and channels. Radiation resistance of such a scintillator is 5-10 t imes higher than that of standard types. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.