title: Composition of A-150 tissue-equivalent plastic.
abstract: In recent years, the use of tissue-equivalent materials has become quite common in fast-neutron dosimetry, with the A-150 plastic developed by Shonka et al. probably the most popular. Information on this specific plastic is scantily reported in the literature and as a consequence a preponderance of authors unknowingly reference an article by Shonka describing an early version of a tissue substitute plastic but having a different elemental composition than the present A-150 formulation. We have reviewed the results of 21 chemical analyses which have occurred over a time span of four years on a total of 14 samples of A-150 plastic and based on these data and the formulation of the plastic, have arrived at a suggested composition for A-150 tissue-equivalent plastic. The ambiguities of water absorption by nylon, one of the components of the plastic, and the uncertainty this reflects in the composition of the plastic were evaluated.
mesh_terms: D005214:Fast Neutrons; D009502:Neutrons; D009757:Nylons / Q000032:analysis; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D009757:Nylons; D010969:Plastics; D014131:Trace Elements; D014867:Water