Technology for growing stilbene single crystals as highly efficient scintillators for ionizing radiation detectors

Purpose. The technology is designed to carry out work on growing stilbene single crystals using the Bridgman-Stockbarger method as highly efficient scintillators for ionizing radiation detectors.

Technical properties. Production capacity – 1-50 kg per year.

Scope. Growing single crystals, instrument making.

Advantages. The technology allows growing single crystals using the Bridgman-Stockbarger method from synthesized raw materials directly on-site, as well as stabilizing and automating the growth processes, which significantly reduces the cost of the source material for manufacturing detectors, and, consequently, the cost of the final product.

Technical and economic effect. The introduction of the technology will reduce the cost of the final product, and will also contribute to the creation of additional jobs due to the use of synthesized raw materials directly on-site. Due to the fact that this technology uses 2-channel PID controllers TRM-151 instead of ST-5000 tube voltage stabilizers, this improves voltage stabilization during raw material purification and single crystal growth and automates temperature reduction during annealing. As a result, the share of manual labor is reduced, control over the growth process is improved, the quality of raw materials and grown single crystals is improved, and the annealing time is reduced. The presence of these factors allows reducing the cost of production by about 5%.

Description. The technological process consists of growing stilbene (C14H12) single crystals by the Bridgman-Stockbarger method. First, high-quality and pure stilbene raw material is prepared by the zone melting method. Growth ampoules are filled with purified raw material, air is removed, filled with inert gas and sealed. Stilbene C14H12 single crystals are grown in two-zone growth units. It is annealed and cooled to room temperature. Quality control and measurement of the scintillator light output are performed for the grown stilbene single crystals.

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