Characterization of a silicate glass as a high dose dosimeter

Commercial silicate glass has been investigated as a possible high dose dosimeter using an UV–vis spectrophotometer. Glass samples were irradiated by 60Co γ rays and the results compared with those obtained with 3.4 and 8.4 MeV electron beams. The irradiated samples showed rapid fading at room temperature immediately after irradiation. In order to improve the stability of absorbance, glass samples were submitted to post-irradiation thermal treatments (150 °C for 20 min). The influences of the dose, type and energy of the ionizing radiation on the fading characteristics and on the response of the irradiated and thermally treated glasses were studied. Dependence of the glass response on the temperature during gamma irradiation in the range −3 to 80 °C is reported. The reproducibility to reuse glass dosimeter by thermal bleaching the radiation induced colour centres at 300 °C for 30 min was also investigated. Calibration curves in the range 0.1–17 kGy were obtained by using in-plant calibration techniques against transfer standard alanine dosimeters in the Tunisian semi-industrial gamma irradiation facility.