Melt-compounded composites of ethylene vinyl acetate with magnesium sulfate as flexible EPR dosimeters: Mechanical properties, manufacturing process feasibility and dosimetric characteristics

Abstract Novel polymeric composites for radiation dosimetry were developed. The composites were prepared by solvent-free melt compounding of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) (40% vinyl) and magnesium sulfate (MgSO 4 ). Mechanical properties, melt flow characteristics and dosimetric properties were investigated. The composites with up to 50% (wt) of MgSO 4 were flexible and capable of flow. The dose response of the EPR signal of the composites was studied in the dose range 3 Gy–4 kGy and found to be linear between 18 Gy and 4 kGy. The reproducibility of dose measurements was good. The signal fading rate and the energy dependence of the dose response were found to be acceptable.