Use of Melamine as an X-Radiation Detector

Abstract

Melamine, in the form of a clear plastic material, can be used as an x‐radiation detector in the range from hundreds to millions of roentgens. The effect of radiation is to increase the optical absorption of melamine for wavelengths from 330 to 480 millimicrons. The change in absorption produced by the radiation is greater at shorter wavelengths of light. However, in practice a compromise must be realized because the natural absorption of melamine also increases steeply as the wavelength of light is decreased. Preliminary experiments with 11‐Mev bremsstrahlung radiation and with Co⁶⁰ gamma rays indicate that the dosimeter properties are roughly independent of the x‐ray energy.