Scintillator-based fiber optic dosimeters for electron beam processing

In our continuing work on fiber-optic dosimeters for electron beam processing of composites, Adherent Technologies, Inc. has developed a series of radiation dosimeters utilizing a polymeric scintillator cladding as the radiation measurement method. These dosimeters are easily incorporated into par's or tools and have the advantage that connection to the readout electronics is through a non-conductive fiber optic lead allowing for remote, real-time readout, which is unaffected by charge deposition or build-up in the target. Real-time monitoring allows in-process monitoring capability required to control laminate cure levels for secondary e-beam bonding or curing with other partial or fully cured laminates. An exact correlation between scintillator signal and deposited dose can be developed The degree of cure will be determined by the substrate specific empirical relationship of accumulated dose and statistically valid thermal glass transition values. These dosimeters can be used in the development of automated cure cycles that control the degree of laminate and bond line cure.