Plastic scintillating fiber and its manufacturing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023391030-A1
Application number	US-202118032065-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 1, 2021
Priority date	Oct 15, 2020
Publication date	Dec 7, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A plastic scintillating fiber includes: an outermost peripheral layer containing a compound of a heavy metal element and containing a resin having scintillating properties; a core disposed inside the outermost peripheral layer and containing at least one type of fluorescent substance that absorbs the scintillation light generated from the outermost peripheral layer and wavelength-converts the absorbed light into light having a wavelength longer than that of the absorbed light; and a cladding layer covering an outer peripheral surface of the core and having a refractive index lower than that of the core. A wavelength shifting fiber including the core and the cladding layer, and the outermost peripheral layer covering an outer peripheral surface of the wavelength shifting fiber are integrally formed.

First claim

1 . A plastic scintillating fiber, comprising:
an outermost peripheral layer containing a compound of a heavy metal element and containing a resin having scintillating properties; a core disposed inside the outermost peripheral layer and containing at least one type of fluorescent substance that absorbs scintillation light generated from the outermost peripheral layer and wavelength-converts the absorbed light into light having a wavelength longer than that of the absorbed light; and a cladding layer covering an outer peripheral surface of the core and having a refractive index lower than that of the core, wherein a wavelength shifting fiber including the core and the cladding layer, and the outermost peripheral layer covering an outer peripheral surface of the wavelength shifting fiber are integrally formed.

2 . The plastic scintillating fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the outermost peripheral layer contains at least one type of fluorescent substance that absorbs the scintillation light and wavelength-converts the absorbed light into light having a wavelength longer than that of the absorbed light.

3 . The plastic scintillating fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the heavy metal element is lead.

4 . The plastic scintillating fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the heavy metal element is bismuth.

5 . The plastic scintillating fiber according to claim 1 , wherein in the outermost peripheral layer, the compound of a heavy metal element is copolymerized with the resin having scintillating properties.

6 . The plastic scintillating fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the wavelength shifting fiber and the outermost peripheral layer are integrally formed by a drawing process.

7 . The plastic scintillating fiber according to claim 1 , wherein outside the outermost peripheral layer, a protective layer that protects the outermost peripheral layer is integrally formed.

8 . The plastic scintillating fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the cladding layer has a multi-cladding structure comprising:
an inner cladding layer; and an outer cladding layer covering an outer peripheral surface of the inner cladding layer and having a refractive index lower than that of the inner cladding layer.

9 . The plastic scintillating fiber according to claim 1 , comprising a reflective layer outside the outermost peripheral layer or the protective layer.

10 . The plastic scintillating fiber according to claim 9 , wherein the reflective layer is a metal film.

11 . A method for manufacturing a plastic scintillating fiber, the fiber comprising:
an outermost peripheral layer containing a compound of a heavy metal element and containing a resin having scintillating properties; a core disposed inside the outermost peripheral layer and containing at least one type of fluorescent substance that absorbs scintillation light generated from the outermost peripheral layer and wavelength-converts the absorbed light into light having a wavelength longer than that of the absorbed light; and a cladding layer covering an outer peripheral surface of the core and having a refractive index lower than that of the core, and the method comprising: a process of manufacturing a preform by inserting a second cylindrical body for the cladding layer into a first cylindrical body for the outermost peripheral layer, and inserting a rod for the core into the second cylindrical body; and a process of drawing the preform while heating the preform.

12 . A method for manufacturing a plastic scintillating fiber, the fiber comprising:
an outermost peripheral layer containing a compound of a heavy metal element and containing a resin having scintillating properties; a core disposed inside the outermost peripheral layer and containing at least one type of fluorescent substance that absorbs scintillation light generated from the outermost peripheral layer and wavelength-converts the absorbed light into light having a wavelength longer than that of the absorbed light; and a cladding layer covering an outer peripheral surface of the core and having a refractive index lower than that of the core, and the method comprising: coating the outermost peripheral layer on a surface of a wavelength shifting fiber containing the core and the cladding layer.

Assignees

• Kuraray Co

Inventors

• Fujita Katsuhiro
• Hashizume Toru

Classifications

• G02B1/046

  characterised by the core material · CPC title

• B29D11/00701 Primary

  having an intermediate layer between core and cladding · CPC title

• G01T1/201 Primary

  using scintillating fibres · CPC title

• C09K11/66

  containing germanium, tin or lead · CPC title

• C09K11/74

  containing arsenic, antimony or bismuth · CPC title