Radiation damage by neutrons to plastic scintillators

Polystyrene based scintillator SCSN38, wavelength shifter Y7 with polymethylmethacrylate matrix and pure PM-MA light guide GS218 have been irradiated in the mixed radiation field of a pool reactor. About 77% of the dose released in SCSN38 was caused by the [Gamma]-field, 23% by fast neutrons. The total dose ranged from 2 to 105 kGy. The dose measurements were made using alanine dosimeters. Transmission and fluorescence of the samples have been measured before and several times after irradiation. The radiation damage results show no differences to irradiations in pure [Gamma]-fields with corresponding released doses.