Lithium-Loaded Plastic Scintillators for the Detection of Thermal Neutrons

A description is given of results from developing a new lithium-loaded plastic scintillator based on a styrene–methacrylic acid copolymer. Measurements of the light output and transparency of samples of the new material allow the optimum concentrations of the scintillation additive, wave shifter, secondary solvent, and lithium-containing additive to be determined.