Synthesis and application of boron polymers for enhanced thermal neutron dosimetry

Abstract

A novel carborane monomer called Allyl Propargyl Carbonate Carborane (APCC) is synthesized and copolymerized with Allyl Diglycol Carbonate (ADC) for use as an efficient polymeric detector for neutron dosimetry. Detector films with an average thickness of 530 to 630 plus-minus 15 micro-m and varying concentration of natural boron from 1 to 5 percent by weight were prepared by cast copolymerization of APCC and ADC. The detectors were irradiated to dose equivalent of 1 mSv of thermal neutrons and etched chemically using 7 M KOH solution at 60 degrees C. The etching duration was optimized to maximize the net track density and signal to noise ratio due to sup(10) B (n, Alpha) sup(7) Li reaction in the detector. Tracks registered by the novel detectors are compared with an imported ortho-carborane doped Poly (Allyl Diglycol Carbonate) thermal detector [(PADC) sub(th)] under identical etching conditions. The results suggested that poly (APCC- sub(co)-ADC) with 2 percent boron is more promising material than (PADC) sub(th).