Copper activated thermoluminescence dosimeter and method

A process for preparing a copper activated thermoluminescence dosimeter, the process comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a silicate glass composition comprising:
• in moles, about 62-67 percent SiO.sub.2 ;
• in moles, about 24-28 percent B.sub.2 O.sub.3 ;
• in moles, about 6-8 percent M.sub.2 O, where M is Na.sup.+ or K.sup.+ ;
• in moles about 1-3 percent Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ;
• in moles, about 0.5-1 percent CO;
• wherein said silicate glass has a melting temperature of about 1400.degree.-1600.degree. C.;
• (b) treating the silicate glass composition at a temperature and for a time sufficient to achieve phase separation of a soluble borate phase out of an insoluble silicate phase;
• (c) leaching the soluble borate phase from the insoluble silica phase by first treating the composition with distilled water wherein the distilled water is at a temperature sufficient to achieve leaching of the soluble borate phase, and then treating the composition with about 0.1N to 0.3N hydrochloric acid for a time sufficient to yield a leached, porous glass;
• (d) washing the leached glass to remove chloride ions to yield a silica rich porous glass having approximately:
• by weight 94 to 97 percent SiO.sub.2 ;
• by weight, 0.4 to 2 percent Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ;
• by weight, 0.02 to 1.0 percent M.sub.2 O, where M is Na.sup.+ or K.sup.+ ;
• and, by weight, 2 to 6 percent B.sub.2 O.sub.3 ;
• (e) heating the silica-rich porous glass at a temperature sufficient to remove impurities from the pores of the glass;
• (f) impregnating the silica-rich glass with a solution of an organo-copper complex in an organic solvent;
• (g) drying, and then heating, the impregnated glass in air to a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to remove the organic solvent;
• and
• (h) treating the impregnated glass with a constant flow of (i) inert gas or (ii) inert gas and hydrogen gas.