Thermoluminescent properties of some phosphor glasses based on aluminum oxide

The transparent thermoluminescent aluminum oxide-based glass of 15Al₂ O₃ -35P₂ O₅ -25CaO-25Na₂ CO₃ , abbreviated as APCN (all in mol%) doped with different concentrations of SiO₂ from 0.0-500 ppm was prepared using a conventional melt-quenching technique. The TL sensitivities of the prepared glasses were investigated at 3 Gy γ-dose using a ⁶⁰ Co source and measured at a heating rate 10 C/sec. The highest TL intensity of the material doped with SiO₂ was found at a concentration of 500 ppm (APCNSi₅ ). Deconvolution of the glow curve from APCNSi₅ resulted in four peaks at about 161, 194, 237 and 293 C with a Figure Of Merit (FOM) of 1.28%. The APCNSi₅ specimen had the best dosimetric properties when compared with the other samples. Reproducibility, repeatability, dose-response curve and fading effect were checked for peak 3, which appeared at about 237 C. The results displayed that the APCNSi₅ glass system was a low-Z material (Z_eff  ≈ 10), and had good reproducibility and good repeatability. Peak 3 showed good linearity over a dose range up to 20 Gy (R²  = 0.999) and sublinearity behaviour was found. The signal from APCNSi₅ faded by about 11% after 2 days post irradiation, therefore it showed almost no significant loss. Such properties make the newly prepared glasses suitable for and highly recommended for use in γ-dosimeters. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.