Photo-luminescence of Risø B3 and PVB films for application in radiation dosimetry

Risø B3 film dosimeters (23 μm) prepared from poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) incorporating pararosaniline cyanide, as the radiation-sensitive element and PVB films (25 μm) prepared from PVB without any additives are investigated for γ-radiation measurement using spectrofluorimetry based on their emission properties. The unirradiated Risø B3 film when excited at 554 nm shows an emission band at 602 nm while PVB film shows an emission band at 305 nm when excited at 235 nm wavelength. The fluorescence intensity of both emission bands decreases with the increase of absorbed dose due to the damage caused by ionizing radiation. The useful dose range of Risø B3 film extends up to 120 kGy while that of PVB film extends up to 60 kGy. The response of Risø B3 film increases with the increase of relative humidity during irradiation while that of PVB has less effect in the humidity range of 20–70%. The percent uncertainty associated with the measurement of the dose response was found to be ±3% (1σ) for both films. Risø B3 and PVB films show good post-irradiation stability in dark and indirect daylight where the deviation in the response overall a 2-month storage period was found to be ±5% for Risø B3 and ±2% for PVB.