Radiochromic film containing methyl viologen for radiation dosimetry

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films containing methyl viologen (MV2+) that colours blue upon exposure to ionizing radiation were investigated as possible dosimeters for use in radiation processing applications. In order to find the most suitable composition of the PVA-MV2+ film, different concentrations of the dye have been studied. The absorbance values at selected wavelengths, obtained from irradiation of the PVA film containing the most suitable MV2+ concentration, can be satisfactorily related to the absorbed dose over a wide range, from 50 Gy up to 40 kGy. The effects of dose, dose rate, humidity and temperature on the response of the PVA-MV2+ dosimeter film have been studied under laboratory conditions. We conclude that the PVA film containing MV2+ is a promising tool for the absorbed dose measurements in several industrial applications of ionizing radiations.