The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the dose sensitivity and ambient light resistance of radiochromic plastic dosimeters (RPDs) incorporating mixed azo compound with those incorporating individual azo compounds.RPDs were fabricated using a mixture of polyurethane, leuco dye, initiator, and solvent.In this study, three azo compounds (tartrazine, sunset yellow, and allura red) were incorporated into RPDs either individually or in combination. Thus, we produced five dosimeter types: one original RPD (A) without azo compounds, three RPDs (B, C, D) with individual azo compounds, and one RPD (E) with mixed azo compounds. Initially, to compare dose response and sensitivity, one group of each sample was delivered to doses ranging from 0.2 Gy to 3 Gy with 6 MV photon beams at 600 cGy/min. To assess ambient light resistance, another group was exposed to light for varying durations. Following irradiation and light exposure, optical density (OD) was obtained using a cone-beam optical CT scanner for each group. Wavelength spectra for each sample were acquired using a spectrometer. This study encompassed analysis and comparison of dose response curves, sensitivity, and netOD-time graphs among samples. Additionally, the absorption wavelength spectra of the samples were compared with the light spectrum emitted by a light bulb.The dose response curves were represented by linear functions, with the slope indicating the sensitivity of each sample. The sensitivity for samples A-E were 0.0759, 0.0988, 0.0902, 0.0809, and 0.1013 ΔOD/Gy, respectively. Samples B-E demonstrated increases in sensitivity of 30.1%, 18.8%, 6.5%, and 33.4%, respectively, compared to sample A. Sample E, which incorporated mixed azo compounds, demonstrated the highest sensitivity and remarkable resistance to ambient light. The results suggested that all azo compounds influenced the sensitivity of the RPDs, and that mixed azo compounds does not reduce the sensitivity of the RPDs. The ambient light resistance was dictated by the overlap between the light bulb's wavelength and the azo dyes' absorption range, which for mixed azo compounds spanned widely from 300 nm to 600 nm. The mixed azo compounds, as opposed to a single azo compound, allowed for the absorption of a wider range of light wavelengths, leading to an increased resistance to ambient light.Our study demonstrated that the inclusion of azo compounds enhances the sensitivity of RPDs. Specifically, the use of mixed azo compounds provided the highest sensitivity and exhibited superior resistance to ambient light. This improved performance can be attributed to the broader absorption wavelength spectrum achievable with mixed azo compounds, enabling absorption across a wider range of light wavelengths. These findings highlight the potential utility of mixed azo compounds in the fabrication of RPDs, enhancing their function as highly sensitive and resistant dosimeters to ambient light.
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