A new type of plastic scintillators with excellent radiation resistance

Radiation processes in plastic scintillators (PSs) are studied to establish that, first, macroradicals ore the main quenchers of radiation-induced lum inescence in the PSs, and, second, molecular oxygen initiates the decay of macroradicals. Based on these principles, PSs of a new type, whose radiatio n resistance is by an order of magnitude higher than that of standard polys tyrene scintillators, were developed and synthesized. The special nanoporou s morphology of the new PSs is a system of open pores and channels, which p rovide efficient penetration of molecular oxygen into the polymer bulk to p roduce the antirad effect.