Service life of plastic scintillators

Experimental data on dependence of light yield and duration of scintillation response on the storing time of plastic scintillators (PS) in the air are presented. PS on the base of polystyrene after thermal polymerization at 200 deg C during 10-15 were investigated. Service life of scintillators reduced approximately 2 times with increase of storing temperature per every 6-12 deg C. Thermoxidizing reactions proceeding in polymeric base with participation of low-molecular compounds have the determining value in PS aging