Synthesis of a flexible poly(chloroprene)/methyl red film dosimeter using an environment-benign shear compounding method

S K Suman; K A Dubey; B B Mishra; Y K Bhardwaj; R K Mondal; Murali Seshadri; V Natarajan; L Varshney

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.01.021

Synthesis of a flexible poly(chloroprene)/methyl red film dosimeter using an environment-benign shear compounding method

Appl Radiat Isot. 2015 Apr:98:60-5. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.01.021. Epub 2015 Jan 22.

Authors

S K Suman¹, K A Dubey², B B Mishra³, Y K Bhardwaj⁴, R K Mondal⁴, Murali Seshadri¹, V Natarajan⁵, L Varshney⁴

Affiliations

¹ Radiation Safety Systems Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India.
² Radiation Technology Development Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India. Electronic address: abhinav@barc.gov.in.
³ Food Technology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India.
⁴ Radiation Technology Development Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India.
⁵ Radiochemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India.

PMID: 25638574
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.01.021

Abstract

The paper reports synthesis of a new film dosimeter based on a solvent-free route. Methyl red (MR) dye was introduced into poly(chloroprene) (PC) in various concentrations. The films were intensely red with λmax ~515nm. The absorbance decreased linearly with absorbed radiation dose up to 30kGy without a significant change in λmax. Color coordinates of the films were also analyzed. Optical micrographs of the films showed no signs of inhomogeneous distribution of MR in the PC matrix, which was attributed to the polarity of PC. Radiation sensitivity, dose response linearity, effects of irradiation temperature and humidity, as well as the rate of fading, were also investigated.

Keywords: Film dosimetry; Methyl red; Poly(chloroprene); Shear compounding.