Polyvinyltoluene (PVT, polyvinyl toluene) is a
synthetic polymer of
alkylbenzenes with a linear formula
H2CH(C6H4CH3). Commercial vinyl toluene is a mixture of methyl styrene
isomer
In chemistry, isomers are molecules or polyatomic ions with identical molecular formulae – that is, same number of atoms of each element – but distinct arrangements of atoms in space. Isomerism is existence or possibility of isomers.
Is ...
s
File:Chemical_formula_for_polyvinyl_tolulene.png, chemical formula for PVT
Uses
PVT can be doped with
anthracene
Anthracene is a solid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) of formula C14H10, consisting of three fused benzene rings. It is a component of coal tar. Anthracene is used in the production of the red dye alizarin and other dyes. Anthracene is co ...
or other wavelength-shifting dopants to produce a
plastic scintillator. When subjected to
ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation (or ionising radiation), including nuclear radiation, consists of subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves that have sufficient energy to ionize atoms or molecules by detaching electrons from them. Some particles can travel ...
(both
particle radiation and
gamma radiation
A gamma ray, also known as gamma radiation (symbol γ or \gamma), is a penetrating form of electromagnetic radiation arising from the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei. It consists of the shortest wavelength electromagnetic waves, typically s ...
), the amount of visible radiation emitted is proportional to the absorbed dose as long as the energy loss per length is not too large. A relation applicable to a wide range of values for energy loss per unit length is given by
Birks' Law.
PVT can be damaged by radiation with high stopping power, e.g.
ion beam
An ion beam is a type of charged particle beam consisting of ions. Ion beams have many uses in electronics manufacturing (principally ion implantation) and other industries. A variety of ion beam sources exists, some derived from the mercu ...
s or by any kind of ionizing radiation. A review of radiation damage for PVT and other similar plastic scintillators can be found at. Such radiation breaks the C-H
bonds and creates color centers which absorb the produced light, significantly reducing the light output.
Following the increase in interest in Vinyl Records (as at 2022), PVT is being looked at as a replacement for PVC, the usual and historic material used to make Vinyl Records. PVT is considered more environmentally friendly than its older cousin PVC.
References
Vinyl polymers
Phosphors and scintillators
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