Radiation damage in scintillator detector chemical compounds: a new approach using PPO-Toluene liquid scintillator as a model

The effect of radiation damage was evaluated in PPO-Toluene liquid scintillator solution. Samples containing PPO (1% w/v) diluted in toluene were prepared and irradiated at different doses, using a ⁶⁰Co irradiator at 1.8 Gy/s. The effect of radiation on transmittance, light output, and chemical modification in the PPO were evaluated before and after irradiation. Transmittance loss at 360 nm decayed exponentially with the dose. The light output decreased as the radiation dose increased. PPO degraded biexponentially with the dose, whereas PPO degradation products, such as benzoic acid, benzamide, and benzyl alcohol, increased with the dose.