Some properties of commercial dyed plastic as radiation dosimeters

The use of commercial dyed plastics (red and green perspex) as radiation dosimeters in a cobalt-60 sterilizing plant is described. The results are satisfactory and offer advantages over the other dosimeters. The increase in the optical density for red perspex at wavelengths 650 and 750 nm with radiation can be used for absorbed dose measurements over the ranges from 1 to 7.5 KGy and from 5 to 25 KGy correspondingly. The decrease in the optical density for green perspex at 596, 612 and 641 nm with absorbed dose can extend the linear response range up to about 45 KGy. The fading of intensity of the irradiation induced absorption bands in dyed plastics after storage at different temperatures had been investigated