New ultrafast low-cost polyurethane based plastic scintillator

• Published in: Journal of luminescence Vol. 263; p. 120133
• Main Authors: Shevelev, V.S., Ishchenko, A.V., Omelkov, S.I., Nagirnyi, V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Low-cost; Plastic; Polyurethane; PPO; Scintillator; Ultrafast timing; Low-cost; Scintillator; PU; Polyurethane; Ultrafast timing; Plastic; PPO
• ISSN: 0022-2313; 1872-7883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlumin.2023.120133

The study of plastic scintillators with polyurethane (PU) matrix based on cycloaliphatic isocyanate 4,4′-methylenebis (cyclohexyl isocyanate) (H12MDI) and 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) as a luminescence activator is presented. A number of samples with different PPO content amounting up to 20 wt% were synthesized and their optical and luminescence characteristics were investigated. Pure H12MDI – PU based polymer exhibits low optical density in the spectral region 350–500 nm characteristic of the PPO emission band. The PU sample loaded with 5 wt% PPO demonstrated a light yield of 1088 photons/MeV and ultrafast rise and decay time of few picoseconds and few nanoseconds, respectively. The estimated coincidence time resolution (CTR) value for a PU sample is 1.4 times smaller than that known for a commercial scintillator BC-422 available for ultrafast timing applications. •A new plastic polyurethane (PU) based scintillator has been synthesized.•The concentration of PPO dopant in the PU scintillator can reach up to 20 wt%.•The PU sample loaded with 5 wt% PPO has a light yield of 1088 photons/MeV.•The new PU scintillator has an ultrafast rise time.•The CTR of the new PU scintillator is 1.4 times smaller than that of BC-422.