Performance of the Commercial PP/ZnS:Cu and PP/ZnS:Ag Scintillation Screens for Fast Neutron Imaging

Malgorzata Makowska,Christian Grünzweig,Albert Zeller,Bernhard Walfort,Thomas Bücherl

doi:10.3390/jimaging3040060

Malgorzata Makowska, Christian Grünzweig + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/jimaging3040060

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Abstract

Fast neutron imaging has a great potential as a nondestructive technique for testing large objects. The main factor limiting applications of this technique is detection technology, offering relatively poor spatial resolution of images and low detection efficiency, which results in very long exposure times. Therefore, research on development of scintillators for fast neutron imaging is of high importance. A comparison of the light output, gamma radiation sensitivity and spatial resolution of commercially available scintillator screens composed of PP/ZnS:Cu and PP/ZnS:Ag of different thicknesses are presented. The scintillators were provided by RC Tritec AG company and the test performed at the NECTAR facility located at the FRM II nuclear research reactor. It was shown that light output increases and the spatial resolution decreases with the scintillator thickness. Both compositions of the scintillating material provide similar light output, while the gamma sensitivity of PP/ZnS:Cu is significantly higher as compared to PP/ZnS:Ag-based scintillators. Moreover, we report which factors should be considered when choosing a scintillator and what are the limitations of the investigated types of scintillators.

Highlights

Neutron imaging is a rapidly developing technique in non-destructive testing
At various large-scale neutron sources, neutron imaging beamlines are available for users offering cold or thermal neutron radiography and tomography
The most advanced imaging instruments ICON [1], CONRAD-2 [2], ANTARES [3], NIST Neutron Imaging Facility [4] and DINGO [5] are located at continuous neutron sources, the relatively new instruments, RADEN [6], IMAT [7] and soon available

Summary

Introduction

At various large-scale neutron sources, neutron imaging beamlines are available for users offering cold or thermal neutron radiography and tomography. The most advanced imaging instruments ICON [1], CONRAD-2 [2], ANTARES [3], NIST Neutron Imaging Facility [4] and DINGO [5] are located at continuous neutron sources, the relatively new instruments, RADEN [6], IMAT [7] and soon available. VENUS [8] and ODIN [9] at pulsed neutron sources. There is only one beamline offering fission neutron 2D and 3D imaging in an official user program: the NECTAR Tomography And Radiography) facility, an instrument located at the FRM II research reactor at MLZ [10].

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