Low-cost extruded plastic scintillator

Motivated by a need for lower cost plastic scintillation detectors, we have tested commercially available polystyrene pellets in order to produce scintillating materials that can be extruded into various shapes. Selection of the raw materials is discussed. Two techniques are described that add wavelength shifting dopants to polystyrene pellets and extrude plastic scintillating bars using these materials. Data on light yield and transmittance are presented.