The effect of methyl yellow concentrations on the optical properties of polyvinyl chloride-methyl yellow film as a radiation dosimeter

Abstract

A dosimetry system's ability to monitor absorbed doses is crucial for the quality assurance and control of products that have been exposed to radiation. Here, we propose a polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-methyl yellow (MY) film as a potential dosimeter for irradiation facilities. The PVC-MY film was prepared with a simple solvent-casting method at different MY concentrations from 0.3 to 1.2 mM. To evaluate the dosimeter's performance, the film was exposed to gamma-irradiation with irradiation doses of 0–25 kGy. The optical characteristics of the films examined using a UV–Vis spectrophotometer showed that the color of the films changed from yellow to red with increasing irradiation doses, and the color change sensitivity of the films increased with increasing MY concentrations. The absorption spectra of the irradiated PVC-MY films showed three maximum absorption peaks at 417, 522, and 547 nm. As irradiation doses increased, the film absorption at 417 nm decreased, while the film absorption at 522 and 547 nm increased. The film's stability studies suggest storage of the irradiated film in a cold-dark conditions is recommended to prevent damage and maintain response stability. The findings in this study emphasize the potential of the PVC-MY film as a dosimeter for irradiation facilities.

Keywords

• Radiochromic film dosimeter
• Gamma-irradiation
• Polyvinyl chloride
• Methyl yellow