Defect-resistant plastic scintillators with aliphatic additives

A plastic scintillator, comprising:

• a polymer matrix;
• an aliphatic additive present in the polymer matrix in an effective amount to impart fog resistance to the plastic scintillator, wherein the fog resistance is defined as the plastic scintillator being essentially free of fog following a water vapor treatment comprising a heating of the plastic scintillator to 55 degrees Celsius in the presence of water vapor in a range of 70 to 100% relative humidity for one week followed by cooling the plastic scintillator to 25 degrees Celsius;
• and
• at least one fluorescent dye in the polymer matrix, the dye being effective to provide scintillation upon exposure to radiation.

A method of forming a plastic scintillator, the method comprising:

• creating a homogenous mixture of precursor components including:
• at least one monomeric species having a phenyl group for polymerization,
• an aliphatic additive present in an effective amount to impart fog resistance to the plastic scintillator, wherein the fog resistance is defined as the plastic scintillator being essentially free of fog following a water vapor treatment comprising a heating of the plastic scintillator to 55 degrees Celsius in the presence of water vapor in a range of 70 to 100% relative humidity for one week followed by cooling the plastic scintillator to 25 degrees Celsius, and
• at least one fluorescent dye effective to provide scintillation upon exposure to radiation;
• and
• polymerizing the homogenous mixture.