Workability Problems In Lithium Scintillating Glasses For Neutron Detection

Terbium and cerium doped scintillating glasses containing lithium are used for neutron detection. These glasses are used in the production of scintillating fibre optic plates which allow neutron images to be transformed into optical images. The presence of lithium in the glass composition can cause devitrification phenomena during the working process required for the plate production. Investigations with a thermal gradient furnace have been performed and the viscosity of terbium-lithium or cerium-lithium doped glasses has been measured to assess their workability according to the fibre plate fabrication technology.