JP2003502647A - In-Situ radioactivity detection - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] Detecting substance for in-situ detection of radioactivity. The detection material includes at least one scintillator material (45) dispersed in an adhesive material (48) and is flexible enough to be wound and unwound without cracking or breaking. .

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a detection substance containing at least one scintillator substance for detecting radioactive In-Situ. In another aspect, the invention relates to methods of making and using such detection agents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Radioactivity is the phenomenon where energy is emitted in the form of alpha, beta or gamma rays. Such energy is used for various purposes such as scientific research, nuclear power generation, and medical practice. However, all of these radioactive materials are dangerous to living things. Radioactive substances can adversely affect the ecosystem if they are accidentally leaked or disposed of improperly. Therefore, there is a method that can be used to properly characterize and quantify radioactive substances (pollutants, etc.) at specific locations to properly store and possibly remove biologically hazardous substances such as those mentioned above. Desirable.

The use of solid scintillation materials in polymers and paper is well known. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 975,007, filed Nov. 20, 1997, discloses a porous matrix or membrane containing a separator for radioactive species, and a response to radiation emitted by the radioactive species. A sheet-like article including a scintillator that emits light by the above is reported. This sheet material is useful in detecting and quantifying radioactivity associated with liquid samples. US Patent No. 5,
No. 496,502 (Thomson) reports an adhesive plastic scintillator that can be attached to a solid support (such as a sample well of a microtiter plate). In this case, put the radioactive sample in the sample well,
Attach the microtiter plate to the detector for radioactive coating.

Other methods for detecting radionuclides include scintillation counting and low background gas proportional counting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect, the invention provides for In-Situ detection of radioactive material (ie, detection of radioactive material in a surface and / or substrate without removing the radioactive material or the detected material). It provides a detection substance. The detection substance comprises a scintillator substance dispersed (generally uniformly dispersed) in a matrix material (generally an adhesive substance). When the scintillator substance is excited by radioactivity, the light is detected outside the detection substance and is available for In-Situ detection of the radioactive substance (that is, at least part of the spectrum is in the range of 10 to 30,000 nanometers). Electromagnetic radiation). Optionally, the detection substance may comprise more than one scintillator substance.

In general, the detection substance according to the present invention comprises two or more scintillator substances which emit light when excited by at least two, preferably each of alpha, beta or gamma rays. For example, the detection substance may include one scintillator substance that emits light when excited by alpha rays and a second scintillator substance that emits light when excited by beta rays. Further, for example, the first substance that emits light when excited by gamma rays
And a second scintillator substance that emits light when excited by beta rays.

Among the preferred detection materials according to the present invention are those that are flexible. For example, among the preferred detection substances according to the present invention, some of the detection substances according to the present invention have a diameter of 2.5 cm (preferably 1 cm, more preferably 3 mm, further 1 mm), which is wound once without being cracked or broken. Some are flexible enough to be ejected.

A preferred detection substance according to the present invention is a backing material having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface, and an adhesive attached to the first main surface. A tape comprising a substance and a first scintillator substance, the first scintillator substance comprising:
When excited by radioactivity, it is detected outside the tape and the In-S of the radioactive material is detected.
It emits light that can be used for in-tu detection. The adhesive material, backing material or both may include scintillator material. Alternatively or in addition to the above, the scintillator material may be present as another layer or coating on the tape surface and / or as another layer or coating on the tape. In some embodiments, at least a majority by weight of the scintillator material is dispersed in either the adhesive material or the backing material. In some embodiments according to the present invention, the backing material comprises a first scintillator material and the adhesive material has a second scintillator material dispersed therein that is different from the first material.

[0009] In another aspect, the present invention provides the In- of radioactive material that is detected outside the detection material when excited by radioactivity.
A detection substance containing a scintillator substance that emits light that can be used for Situ detection dispersed in a matrix material is applied to a surface containing a radioactive substance, and light emitted from at least a part of the scintillator substance is emitted from the In substance of the radioactive substance. −
The present invention provides an In-Situ detection method for radioactive substances, which is detected by a photodetector for Situ detection.

In yet another aspect, the present invention has a substrate having a first major surface containing a radioactive substance, a first major surface and a second major surface opposite to the first major surface. A tape having a backing, an adhesive material attached to the first major surface, and a scintillator material, the tape attached to the substrate; and the tape when the scintillator material is excited by radioactivity. And an assembly for detecting In-Situ of radioactive material that emits light that can be detected externally and used for In-Situ detection of radioactive material.

The detection substances according to the invention and the methods for producing and using such substances have many advantages over the prior art for identifying radioactive pollutants. For example, embodiments of the detection material according to the present invention allow for the detection of radioactive contaminants in-situ from the solid or gaseous state without sample recovery, dispersion and concentration. Furthermore, the embodiment of the detection substance according to the invention (in particular the flexible tape and the sprayed detection substance) makes it possible to detect radioactive contaminants in the depressions and / or surfaces of rough surfaces such as concrete and bricks.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The detection substance according to the present invention emits light (that is, at least a part of a spectrum) when excited by radioactivity such as at least one of alpha rays, beta rays, and gamma rays. Emits electromagnetic radiation in the range of 10 to 30,000 nanometers.
The radioactive material that emits radioactivity may be composed of one or more different radiation sources (eg, one radiation source emits alpha rays and another radiation source emits beta or gamma rays, etc.). ).

Referring to FIG. 1, the layer of detection material 31 comprises a scintillator material (such as particles 35) dispersed in a matrix material 33. Optionally, the detection substance 31 may include other components such as plasticizers, fillers and rheology modifiers. Preferably, the matrix material 33 is a pressure sensitive adhesive substance that can be applied to the surface by spraying. The layer of the detection substance 31 is preferably applied or formed on a rough surface, a cracked surface, a curved surface or other irregular surface, or is preferably one which can be applied or formed, but is a smooth and flat surface. But it goes without saying that it is useful.

Referring to FIG. 2, the tape 40 includes a detection layer 41, a backing 47, and an adhesive material 4.
8 and. The detection layer 41 comprises a scintillator substance 45 dispersed in a matrix material 43. FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention attached to a flat surface 54.
One tape 50 is shown. The tape 50 includes a backing material 51 and a detection substance 53. It is shown that the radioactive particles 55 emit the radioactivity 57. For particles underlying such a tape 50, the scintillator material of the detection layer 53 is excited by the radioactivity 57 and is translucent (relative to the wavelength of the light emitted by the scintillator material used), preferably a transparent backing. It emits light 56 (which is transmitted through the material 51).

FIG. 4 shows that the tape 50 can be attached to a curved surface such as a heel portion of the sneaker 61. Certain preferred detection materials (including tapes and coated materials) according to the invention have a diameter of 2.5 cm (preferably 1 cm, more preferably 3 mm).
Depending on the case, it is flexible enough to allow unwinding without cracking or breaking of the detection substance after it has been wound once around the outer circumference of a 1 mm) rod.

Although tapes 40 and 50 are shown to include scintillator material in one structural layer of the tape, one or more scintillator materials (same scintillator material in different layers and / or layers of the tape structure may be included). It will be appreciated that scintillator materials (including materials or different materials) may be present. For example, the scintillator material may be present on the backing itself. However, it is generally preferred that the backing of the tape be substantially free of scintillator material and that the adhesive layer of the tape contain at least one scintillator material. Optionally, the tape according to the invention may comprise more than one adhesive layer.

The particular structure of the detection substance according to the invention (including the relative amount of each detection substance component) depends, for example, on the particular application, the raw material used for the detection substance and / or the amount of such raw material. Sometimes.

Preferably, the tape according to the invention comprises about 1 to about 90% by weight of scintillator material, based on the total weight of matrix material (and / or adhesive material) and scintillator material.

Suitable matrix materials for the detection substance according to the present invention include adhesive substances such as pressure sensitive adhesives and hot melt adhesives. Pressure-sensitive adhesives are usually tacky at room temperature and can be adhered to the surface by applying light pressure. Preferably, the adhesive material has an average 90 ° peel adhesion average of at least 3 N / dm.

Examples of suitable adhesives useful in the practice of the invention are primarily thermoplastic elastomeric block copolymers, natural rubber, butyl rubber, polyisobutylene, silicone, polyalphaolefin, polyacrylate compositions and these The combination of Examples of useful thermoplastic elastomer-based block copolymers include ethylene-propylene-diene polymers, styrene-isoprene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-butadiene-styrene,
Styrene-containing block copolymers such as styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene and styrene-ethylene / propylene-styrene block copolymers. Other useful adhesive compositions include polyvinyl ether based materials; polychloroprene; butadiene-acrylonitrile polymers; ethylene-containing copolymers such as ethylene vinyl acetate, lower alkyl (meth) acrylates (typically 1-8 Homopolymers, copolymers and terpolymers (comprising carbon); polyurethanes; polyamides; epoxies; polyvinylpyrrolidone and vinylpyrrolidone copolymers; polyesters; and mixtures of the abovementioned substances.

Optionally, the matrix material is a coupling agent, filler, foaming agent, fiber, antistatic agent, tackifier, plasticizer, filler, curing agent, suspending agent, photosensitizer,
It may contain an optical additive such as a lubricant, a wetting agent, a surfactant, a pigment, a dye, an ultraviolet stabilizer, an antioxidant and a low boiling point solvent (such as ethyl acetate). The amounts of these substances are chosen to give the desired coatability, adhesion and stability.

Specific examples of useful pressure sensitive adhesives include thermoplastic tackifying elastomeric block copolymers, tackifying silicones, tackifying natural rubbers, and inherently viscous (meth) acrylate copolymers. A general description of useful pressure sensitive adhesives may be found, for example, in Encyclopedia of Polymer Sci.
nce and Engineering, Volume 13, Wiley-Inter
science Publishers (New York, 1988) and Handbook of Pressure-Sensitive Adheses.
iv Technology, 2nd edition, D.I. Satas, Van Nost
rand Reinhold Co. (New York, 1982) and the like.

Such an adhesive can be prepared by curing or polymerizing at least one monomer by various polymerization methods to form a substance having adhesiveness. Heat or radiation may be used in combination with a suitable catalyst and / or photoinitiator to cure the precursor as described above. Radiation curing methods include visible light, ultraviolet light and electron beam. Preferably, US Pat. No. 4,181,752 (M
The pressure sensitive adhesive is polymerized using UV light as described in Arttens).

The scintillator material emits light when exposed to radioactivity, such as when in the vicinity of a radioactive particle source that is emitting radioactivity. Such scintillator materials may be organic or inorganic in the composition. The emitted light has at least part of its spectrum in the ultraviolet range (ie 10-390 nanometers), the visible range (ie 390-780 nanometers) or the infrared range (ie 780-30). 1,000 nanometers). The scintillator material may be present in the detection material as solutes and / or particles.

Examples of organic scintillator materials include benzoxazoles (eg, 1,
1'-biphenyl-4-yl-6-phenyl-benzoxazole, 2-phenylbenzoxazole, 2- (4'-methylphenyl) -benzoxazole, 2
-(4'-methylphenyl) -5-methylbenzoxazole, 2- (4'-methylphenyl) -5-t-butylbenzoxazole, 2- (4'-t-butylphenyl) -benzoxazole, 2- Phenyl-5-t-butyl-benzoxazole, 2- (4'-t-butylphenyl) -5-t-butylbenzoxazole, 2- (4'-biphenylyl) -benzoxazole, 2- (4'- Biphenylyl) -5-t-butylbenzoxazole, 2-phenylbenzoxazole derivatives such as 2- (4′-biphenylyl) -6-phenyl-benzoxale, Donald L. et al. Horrocks, Organic Scint
illators, Proceedings of the Internet
Ional Symposium on Organic Scintilla
tors, Argonne National Laboratory, p. Four
06, (1966), a 2-phenylbenzoxazole derivative; oxazoles (eg, 2-p-biphenylyl-5-phenyloxazole (CAS Registry Number, 852-37-9, Milwaukee, WI, Aldrich Chemical Co.); 2,2'-p-phenylenebis (5-phenyloxazole) (CAS registration number: 1806-34-4,
Aldrich Chemical Co. ), 2,5-diphenyloxazole (CAS registration number: 92-71-7); oxadiazole (for example, 2,5
-Diphenyloxadiazole) (CAS registration number: 725-12-2) and derivatives obtained from 1,3,4-oxadiazole (for example, 2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2- (4'-t-butylphenyl)-
5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2,5-di- (4'-t-butylphenyl) -1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2-phenyl-5- (4 '' −
Biphenylyl) -1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2- (4'-t-butylphenyl) -5- (4 ''-biphenylyl) -1,3,4-oxadiazole;
Terphenyl (for example, 4,4 ″ -di-tert-amyl-p-terphenyl (CAS registration number: 121838-04-8); polynuclear aromatic (for example, 4,
4'-bis (2,5-dimethylstyryl) diphenyl (CAS registration number: 728
14-85-8) and p-terphenyl (CAS registration number: 92-94-4).
Pyrazoline (for example, 1-phenyl-3-mesityl-2-pyrazoline (CA
S registration number: 60078-97-9), 1,5-diphenyl-3- (4-phenyl-1,3-butadienyl) -2-pyrazoline (CAS registration number: 59715-
47-8), 1,5-diphenyl-beta-styrylpyrazoline (CAS registration number: 2515-62-0); phosphoramide (for example, anilinobis (1-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide (CAS registration number: 6784-53-8). ); Thiophene (eg, 2,5-bis-benzoxazolyl (2 ′)-thiophene; 2,5-bis- [5′-methylbenzoxazolyl (2 ′)]-thiophene,
2,5-bis- [4 ', 5'-dimethylbenzoxazolyl (2')]-thiophene, 2,5-bis- [4 ', 5'-dimethylbenzoxazolyl (2')]-
3,4-dimethylthiopene, 2,5-bis- [5'-isopropylbenzoxazolyl (2 ')]-3,4-dimethylthiophene, 2-benzoxazolyl (2')-5- [7 ' -Sec butyl-benzoxazolyl (2 '
)]-Thiophene, 2-benzoxazolyl (2 ′)-5- [5′-t-butyl-benzoxazolyl (2 ′)]-thiophene, 2,5-bis- [5′-t- Examples include benzoxazalyl-thiophene series derivatives such as butylbenzoxazolyl (2 ′)]-thiophene; combinations thereof. Other organic scintillator materials suitable for practicing the present invention are described by Donald L. et al. Hor
rocks, Organic Scintillators, Proceedi
ngs of the International Symposium o
n Organic Scintillators, Argonne Nati
onal Laboratory, p. 485, (1966).

Examples of suitable inorganic scintillator materials include doped crystalline scintillators (eg NaI (Tl), CsI (Tl), undoped crystalline scintillators (eg Cs, I, BaF ₂ , CeF _3). , Yttrium aluminate,
Bi ₄ Ge ₃ O ₁₂ ). Preferred inorganic scintillator materials include yttrium aluminate, bismuth germanate, and combinations thereof. Other inorganic scintillator materials suitable for use in the present invention include
Scintillator and Phosphor Materials,
Material Research Society Symposium
Proceedings, Materials Research Society
ty, Pittsburgh, PA, vol. 348, p. 5 (1994). Many of the organic and inorganic scintillator materials mentioned above are commercially available from Aldrich Chemical Co. of Milwaukee, WI. Available from.

The detection substance according to the present invention can be generated by any of various methods including the method disclosed in the present specification, and a person skilled in the art can refer to the disclosure of the present invention and make it. It can also be generated by any technique that seems obvious.

The detection substance according to the present invention is a mixture of a curable substance and a scintillator substance,
It can be produced, for example, by applying the resulting mixture to a substrate as needed (such as coating the mixture on the backing of the tape) and subsequently curing the curable material. Generally, to the curable substance, a curing agent (such as a photopolymerization initiator or a catalyst) is added before adding the scintillator substance. A particular preferred method for obtaining a detection substance according to the invention is to partially cure the curable substance to obtain a prepolymer syrup, to disperse the scintillator substance uniformly in this syrup, The step of terminating the curing may be included. The preferable amount of the scintillator substance present in the detection substance varies depending on the material, the scintillator substance, the other components of the detection substance, the use (for example, the type of radioactivity to be detected), etc. It contains scintillator material in the range of about 1 to about 90% by weight, based on the total weight of matrix and scintillator material.

The teachings for making tapes common in the prior art are utilized, except that the tape of the present invention includes a scintillator material to enable In-Situ detection of radioactive material. Thus, a tape according to the invention (including the detection substance or layer) can be produced.

Also, a sprayable or brushable composition comprising a curable substance and a scintillator substance may be sprayed or applied to a desired surface and then the curable material may be cured, etc. By the method, the layer of the detection substance according to the present invention can be prepared in In-Situ. The sprayable or brushable compositions can be sprayed using an aerosol canister (including cans or bottles) system or a mechanical pump (such as a finger pump) canister system. Figure 5
Referring to FIG. 3, sprayable composition 71 is shown sprayed from canister 77 onto surface 73. The material sprayed from the canister 71 includes a curable matrix material (such as an adhesive material), a scintillator material, and a propellant. Suitable propellants are well known to those skilled in the art and may include fluorinated hydrocarbons; chlorofluorocarbons; mixed systems of propane and butane (liquefied natural gas); dimethyl ether and the like. Propellants that can avoid environmental problems are preferred.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to prepare the matrix material by preparing a liquid mixture in which the matrix material is obtained by drying or evaporating the water contained therein. This liquid mixture may be a solution or a suspension.
Optionally, such a liquid mixture can be utilized in preparing the spray-coated detection material.

Optionally, a light enhancing substance (such as a light enhancing film) may be used to enhance the detectability of the light emitted from the scintillator substance. For example, a light enhancement film may be placed on the outermost surface of the detection material or incorporated into the detection material to focus the light emitted from the scintillator material present in the detection material. In one embodiment, for example, a light enhancement film may be utilized as the backing material in the tape according to the present invention.

An example of the light enhancing substance or device is a trade name “3M IMAGE DIREC
"TING FILM (IDF) II", "3M TRANSMISSIVE R
"IGHT ANGLE FILM (TRAF) II" and "3M BRIGH
TNESS ENHANCEMENT FILM (BEF) II "is a light diverting sheet material available from 3M Company of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Other suitable light diverting sheet materials will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure.

The detection substance according to the invention may optionally be combined with a sorption and / or containment medium suitable for handling radioactive substances. For example, the sorbed powder material may be incorporated directly with the scintillator material into the matrix material to provide a containment structure that can also detect the presence of radioactive material (such as radioactive contaminants).
Alternatively, or in addition to the above, it is also possible to stack a sheet of a sorption medium on the detection substance according to the present invention to obtain a high sorption capacity. Suitable sorption media sheets include, for example, fibrous cellulosic materials, fibrous non-woven polymer webs of polyolefins, (polyethylene, polypropylene or copolymers thereof) polyacrylonitrile, fibrillated polymer webs containing polytetrafluoroethylene, glass. Or an inorganic non-woven fibrous web of ceramic material, or sorbent particles or reactive particles comprising poly (p- or m-phenylene terphathalamide) or chemical modifiers thereof, optionally entangled in the fibrous web. A fibrin-based pulp further containing is mentioned. An example of a sorption fibrous material suitable for use in practicing the present invention is further described in US Pat. No. 5,637,637,
No. 506 (Goken, et. Al.). The use of apertured or discontinuous sorption sheets in such laminated structures facilitates observation of scintillation events associated with the presence of radioactive material (such as radioactive contaminants). However, if such a sheet is not used, scintillation cannot be confirmed from one side because the sorption sheet is opaque.

In general, the detection substance according to the invention is attached to, or otherwise arranged in the vicinity of, the area suspected of containing radioactivity. A device capable of measuring and / or quantifying light emission can be placed on the tape to determine the amount of light emitted from the detection substance or tape. Suitable light measurement devices preferably include optical radiation detectors such as photomultiplier tubes, charge coupled devices or photodiode arrays. Other types of photocells or light sensing devices may be utilized to detect and quantify the light output of scintillator material.

The invention will be further described with reference to the following examples, which do not unnecessarily limit the invention with respect to the specific substances and amounts thereof and other conditions and details used in the following examples. . Various modifications and alterations of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Unless stated otherwise, all parts and percentages are parts by weight and percentages by weight.

Example Test Procedure 90 ° Peel Adhesion Test Sintech Instron (Model Renew 1122 available from Sintech, Research Triangle Park, NC).
Was used to determine the 90 ° peel adhesion properties of the pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape structures according to the present invention. 90 ° in the Sintech Instron operating instructions
Test samples were prepared according to the specifications contained in the description of the peel test procedure. The maximum allowable load was 400 g, and the operating crosshead speed was 305 mm / min. 90 ° peel adhesion data is reported in Newtons per decimeter (N / dm).

Radioactivity Detection Tape samples were exposed to a variety of different radiation sources and the resulting luminescence was measured to assess the ability of the PSA tape structure containing scintillator material according to the invention to detect radiation. Ludl with photomultiplier tube
The um Model 182 Sample Counter (available from Ludlum Measurements, Inc. of Sweetwater, Texas) was used to detect the light emitted from the tape. L operating at 820 volts
udlum Model 2000 Scaler (Ludlum Measurement
ments, Inc. Light events detected were counted. The detected light counting events were corrected with a background luminescence of about 400 counts per minute.

A sample (4 cm × 4 cm) of the adhesive scintillator structure was attached to the radiation source and laminated to a Ludlum Model 182 counter. The counter was closed for about 5 minutes for dark adaptation and the scale was read 5 times at 0.1 minute intervals.
Reported count data was the average of 5 readings corrected by background count. The uncertainty associated with a particular measurement was estimated to be less than 10%.

The radioisotopes utilized in this evaluation included a sealed Tc-99 source (Technetium, 11.89 nCi, available from Isotope Products Laboratories, Burbank, Calif.), And three laboratory prepared lines. Source and included. Aliquots of 0.5 ml, 0.2 ml, and 0.1 ml of Tc-99 standard dilutions (obtained from Isotope Products Laboratories, Burbank, Calif.) Were made into stainless steel planchettes (5.08 cm × 5.08 cm, Massachusetts). North Quinsey A
． F. Murphy Die & Machine Co. , Inc. The above radiation source was prepared by applying the above-mentioned radiation source to the above-mentioned source. The radioactivity of the dried radiation source was 47.1 nCi and Tc-9 for Tc-99 (942-1), respectively.
9 (942-2) for 18.9 nCi, Tc-99 (942-3) for 9.43 nCi
It was i.

Prepolymer Syrup Preparation 94 parts isooctyl acrylate, 6 parts acrylic acid (obtained from Aldrich Chemical, Milwaukee, WI), and benzyl dimethyl ketal (trade name "KB-1", Sartom, Exton, PA).
er Co. A prepolymer syrup was prepared from a mixture with 0.04 part of a photopolymerization initiator) obtained from Co. This mixture was placed in a container, purged with nitrogen, and sealed in a container under a nitrogen atmosphere, and the viscosity of the obtained prepolymer syrup was about 3,000.
UV black light (General Electric C of Farfield, CT) until it is visually inferred to be centipoise
o. Under the trade name "GE F15T8 BL"). 0.1 part of benzyl dimethyl ketal was added to the syrup. The mixture was stirred to produce a homogeneous solution. The resulting solution was stored under a nitrogen atmosphere in the dark.

Examples 1-10 A scintillator-containing prepolymer mixture was coated on a polyester backing and the resulting coating was cured to make a scintillating PSA tape structure according to the present invention.

The scintillator material was prepolymer syrup (described above) in the proportions shown in Table 1 below.
And agitated to form a uniform mixture to prepare a coatable and curable scintillator-containing composition.

[0045]

[Table 1]

This prepolymer mixture was knife coated (0.10 mm thick coating) on a biaxially oriented poly (ethylene terephthalate) film (0.05 mm thick) and covered with a poly (ethylene terephthalate) film coated with a silicone release agent. It was Film laminates are two rows of fluorescent black lamps (obtained from General Electric Co. of Farfield, Conn.) With one row above the film laminate and the other below the film laminate.
And the syrup after coating was cured. This black lamp is
90% of its emission spectrum is in the range of 300-400 nm, about 350 nm
Was the largest. In addition, the light intensity of this black lamp is 2 when exposed for 3.5 minutes.
． It was ² mW / cm ² .

The adhesive strength and scintillation performance of the tape structures of Examples 1-10 were determined as described above. The results are as shown in Table 1 above.

From the data in Table 1, it can be seen that a scintillator PSA tape structure can be produced that retains good adhesive properties even when the adhesive contains up to 80 wt% scintillator material. For example, it appears that the PSA tape composition can be constructed with scintillator materials that are more dense than the bismuth germanate in which the scintillator material is greater than 80% by weight.

The ability of the PSA scintillator composition according to the present invention to detect radiation is determined by the scintillator material contained in the adhesive composition from, for example, the average net count data shown in Table 2 below for Examples 1-4. It may be affected by the amount.

[0050]

[Table 2]

In this series (shown in Table 2 above), the yttrium aluminate content of the tape samples was increased from 5% to 20% by weight and the activity of the radiation source was kept constant.

Subsequently, the radioactivity of the radiation source was reduced and a second set of tape samples of Examples 1 to 4 was tested on three radiation sources. The results are shown in Table 3 below.

[0053]

[Table 3]

From the data in Table 3, it can be seen that increasing the amount of inorganic scintillator material in the adhesive layer of the tape also increased the measured counts detected by the counter. As the radioactivity of the radiation source was reduced, the measured counts detected by the counter also decreased for each tape. From these data, it appears that there may be a correlation between the concentration of radioactive particles in the radiation source and the light detected by the detector.

From the data in Table 4 (below), scintillator tape structures incorporating 2,5-diphenyloxazole or bismuth germanate (Examples 5-10) were found to be yttrium aluminate based structures (Examples). It can be seen that the scintillator substance count value / count measurement value correlation similar to that seen in cases 1 to 4) was exhibited.

[0056]

[Table 4]

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to only the exemplary embodiments described herein.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a cross-sectional view of a detection material layer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a tape according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a tape according to the present invention mounted on a flat radiative surface.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a tape according to the present invention attached to a sneaker.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a canister spraying a detector composition onto a potentially radioactive surface.

[Procedure for Amendment] Submission for translation of Article 34 Amendment of Patent Cooperation Treaty

[Submission date] May 18, 2001 (2001.5.18)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Contents of correction]

[Claims]

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) C09K 11/80 CPM C09K 11/80 CPM CPT CPT G01T 1/169 G01T 1/169 A (72) Inventor Keian・ Chen USA 55133-3427 Post Office Box, St. Paul, Minnesota 33427 F-term (reference) 2G088 EE17 FF04 FF05 FF06 GG09 JJ01 4H001 CA01 CA08 XA08 XA09 XA11 XA13 XA32 XA39 XA53 XA55 XA56 XA58 XA58 XA58

Claims (26)

[Claims] 1. A detection substance for In-Situ detection of a radioactive substance, comprising a scintillator substance dispersed in an adhesive substance, wherein the scintillator substance, when excited by radioactivity It emits light that can be detected externally and used for In-Situ detection of radioactive substances, and the detection substance can be unwound without cracking or breaking after being wound once around the outer circumference of a 2.5 cm diameter rod. A detection substance that is as flexible as possible. 2. The detection material of claim 1, wherein the adhesive material is a pressure sensitive adhesive material. 3. The detection substance according to claim 1, wherein the scintillator substance is uniformly dispersed in the adhesive substance. 4. A backing material having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface; an adhesive material attached to the first major surface; And a scintillator substance for detecting In-Situ of a radioactive substance, wherein the first scintillator substance is detected outside the tape when excited by radioactivity, and is detected as In-Situ of the radioactive substance. A tape that emits light that can be used for Situ detection. 5. The tape of claim 4, which comprises at least two scintillator materials. 6. A second scintillator material is further included, wherein when the first scintillator material is excited by alpha radiation from the radioactive material, the first scintillator material is detected outside the tape to detect the In-Situ of the radioactive material. When the second scintillator substance emits light that can be used for detection and is excited by beta rays from the radioactive substance, it is detected outside the tape and the In-S of the radioactive substance is detected.
The tape of claim 4, which emits light that can be used for in-tu detection. 7. A second scintillator material further comprising: when the first scintillator material is excited by gamma rays from the radioactive material, detected outside the tape to detect In-Situ of the radioactive material. The second scintillator material is excited by beta radiation from the radioactive material, the second scintillator material is detected outside the tape to detect the In-Si of the radioactive material.
The tape of claim 4, which emits light that can be used for tu detection. 8. A second scintillator material is further included, wherein when the first scintillator material is excited by alpha rays from the radioactive material, the first scintillator material is detected outside the tape to detect the In-Situ of the radioactive material. When the second scintillator substance emits light that can be used for detection and is excited by gamma rays from the radioactive substance, the second scintillator substance is detected outside the tape to detect In-S of the radioactive substance.
The tape of claim 4, which emits light that can be used for in-tu detection. 9. A second scintillator material and a third scintillator material, wherein the first scintillator material is detected outside the tape when excited by alpha radiation from the radioactive material. In of the radioactive material In
-Emitting light that can be used for Situ detection, and when the second scintillator substance is excited by beta rays from the radioactive substance, it is detected outside the tape and used for In-Situ detection of the radioactive substance. Emitting light, the third scintillator material being excited by gamma rays from the radioactive material,
5. The tape of claim 4, which emits light that is detected outside the tape and that can be used for In-Situ detection of the radioactive material. 10. The tape of claim 4, wherein the scintillator material is uniformly dispersed in the adhesive material. 11. The tape of claim 4, wherein at least a majority, by weight, of the scintillator material is dispersed in the adhesive material. 12. The tape of claim 4, wherein at least a majority, by weight, of the scintillator material is dispersed in the backing. 13. The tape of claim 4, wherein the scintillator material is present in each of the backing material and the adhesive material. 14. The tape of claim 4, wherein the backing material comprises a first scintillator material and the adhesive material comprises a second scintillator material different from the material. 15. The tape of claim 4, further comprising a light enhancing substance. 16. The tape of claim 4, wherein the tape comprises 1 to 90 wt% of the scintillator material, based on the total weight of the adhesive material and the scintillator material. 17. The tape of claim 4, wherein the tape is flexible so that it can be unwound once around the circumference of a 2.5 cm diameter rod without cracking or breaking the tape. . 18. The tape of claim 4, wherein the adhesive material has an average 90 ° peel adhesion of at least about 3 N / dm. 19. The tape of claim 4, wherein the adhesive material is a pressure sensitive adhesive material. 20. A detection substance comprising a scintillator substance dispersed in a matrix material, the scintillator substance being emitted outside of the detection substance when excited by radioactivity and emitting light that can be used for In-Situ detection of the radioactive substance, In—a radioactive substance, which is applied to a surface containing the radioactive substance and detects light emitted from at least a part of the scintillator substance by a photodetector for detecting In—Situ of the radioactive substance.
Situ detection method. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the scintillator material is uniformly dispersed in the matrix material. 22. A substrate having a first main surface containing a radioactive substance; a backing having a first main surface and a second surface facing the first main surface;
A tape attached to the substrate, the tape having an adhesive material attached to the main surface of the tape and a scintillator material, the tape being external to the tape when the scintillator material is excited by radioactivity. An assembly for in-situ detection of radioactive material, which emits light that can be detected and used for in-situ detection of radioactive material. 23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein at least a majority, by weight, of the scintillator material is dispersed in the adhesive material. 24. The assembly of claim 22, wherein at least a majority, by weight, of the scintillator material is dispersed in the backing. 25. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the scintillator material is uniformly dispersed in the adhesive material. 26. Before the tape is attached to the substrate, the tape has a diameter of 2.
23. The assembly of claim 22 which is flexible enough to be unwound once around the circumference of a 5 cm rod without cracking or breaking the tape.