Scintillator reflective layer coextrusion

• US 6,218,670 B1
• Filed: 01/29/1999
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fermi Research Alliance, LLC
• Original Assignee: Universities Research Association Incorporated
• Inventors: Yun, Jae-Chul, Para, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Zandra V.
• Application Number:
  US09/240,186
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 250/370.11, 250/487.1
• US Class Current: 250/370.11
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2002 Optical details, e.g. reflecting or diffusing layers

Abstract

A polymeric scintillator has a reflective layer adhered to the exterior surface thereof. The reflective layer comprises a reflective pigment and an adhesive binder. The adhesive binder includes polymeric material from which the scintillator is formed. A method of forming the polymeric scintillator having a reflective layer adhered to the exterior surface thereof is also provided. The method includes the steps of (a) extruding an inner core member from a first amount of polymeric scintillator material, and (b) coextruding an outer reflective layer on the exterior surface of the inner core member. The outer reflective layer comprises a reflective pigment and a second amount of the polymeric scintillator material.

Claims

1. A polymeric scintillator having a reflective layer adhered to the exterior surface thereof, said reflective layer comprising a reflective pigment and an adhesive binder, said adhesive binder comprising polymeric material from which said scintillator is formed.

2. The polymeric scintillator of claim 1 wherein said polymeric material is crystalline polystyrene.

3. The polymeric scintillator of claim 1 wherein said reflective pigment is a white pigment.

4. The polymeric scintillator of claim 3 wherein said white pigment is titanium dioxide.

5. The polymeric scintillator of claim 4 wherein the proportion of titanium dioxide in said reflective layer is about 10% by weight.

6. The polymeric scintillator of claim 3 wherein said white pigment is magnesium oxide.

7. A method of forming a polymeric scintillator having a reflective layer adhered to the exterior surface thereof, said method comprising:

(a) extruding an inner core member from a first amount of polymeric scintillator material;

(b) coextruding an outer reflective layer on the exterior surface of said inner core member, said outer reflective layer comprising a reflective pigment and a second amount of said polymeric scintillator material.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said polymeric scintillator material is crystalline polystyrene.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said reflective pigment is a white pigment.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said white pigment is titanium dioxide.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the proportion of titanium dioxide in said reflective layer is about 10% by weight.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said white pigment is magnesium oxide.