Electron beam dosimetry methods

The most commonly used sources of radiation are the 60 Co gamma source for continuous irradiation and pulsed high-energy (>1 MeV) electron beams for fast kinetic studies. Detailed descriptions of several such sources and accelerators are given in numerous books, as are the various methods used by radiation chemists for dosimetry, sample preparation and irradiation, and common product analysis. Several new developments in the analytical procedures, both in the determination of final products and in the direct observation of transient species, will be discussed below. 

Radiation processing by electron beam or y-irradiation is a commonly employed method for the sterilization of medical devices. The method has on one hand the advantage that sterilization can be carried out with the items in their original packages. On the other hand, dosimetry is required to ensure that the radiation treatment is at a tolerable level to avoid toxicological hazard as emphasized in the standards on radiation sterilization drafted by international standards organizations. Dosimetry... 

Calorimetry is an absolute method of dosimetry, since almost all absorbed radiation energy is converted into heat that can be readily measured as a temperature rise of the calorimetric body. Calorimeters that are used as primary dosimeters do not require calibration and, ideally, their response is independent of dose rate, radiation characteristics, and environmental factors (Domen 1987). The calorimeters that are used in radiation processing for the measurement of absorbed dose are relatively simple and need calibration (ISO/ASTM 2003b). The use of calorimeters as primary standard dosimeters for electron beam irradiation is described by McEwen and Dusatuoy (2009) and for gamma irradiation by Seuntjens and Duane (2009). 

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