Radiation Sensing Thermoplastic Composite Panels

Abstract

A storage phosphor panel can include an extruded inorganic storage phosphor layer including a thermoplastic polymer and an inorganic storage phosphor material, and a blue dye, where the extruded inorganic storage phosphor panel has an image quality comparable to that of a traditional solvent coated inorganic storage phosphor screen. Further disclosed are certain exemplary method and/or apparatus embodiments that can provide inorganic storage phosphor panels including reduced leaching rates.

1 . A inorganic storage phosphor panel comprising:
 an inorganic storage phosphor layer comprising at least one polymer, an inorganic storage phosphor material, and a blue dye, and has a barium exposed edge leaching rate that is ⅓ or less than that of a solvent coated panel.   
     
     
         2 . The inorganic storage phosphor panel of  claim 1 , where the barium exposed edge leaching rate that is ½ or less than that of a solvent coated panel. 
     
     
         3 . The inorganic storage phosphor panel of  claim 1 , where the barium exposed edge leaching rate that is ¾ less than that of a solvent coated panel. 
     
     
         4 . The inorganic storage phosphor panel of  claim 1 , where the at least one polymer is a thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The inorganic storage phosphor panel of  claim 1 , where the at least one polymer is a thermoplastic polyolefin polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The inorganic storage phosphor panel of  claim 1 , where the at least one polymer is a thermoplastic polyolefin polymer that is a polyethylene. 
     
     
         7 . The inorganic storage phosphor panel of  claim 1 , where the blue dye is a copper phthalocyanine based blue dye. 
     
     
         8 . The free standing inorganic storage phosphor panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a support comprising the at least one polymer with or without a light absorbing material. 
     
     
         9 . The inorganic storage phosphor panel of  claim 1 , where the inorganic storage phosphor panel is free standing. 
     
     
         10 . A method for manufacturing an inorganic storage phosphor panel comprising:
 melt extruding, injection molding or hot pressing materials comprising at least one thermoplastic polyolefin, an inorganic storage phosphor material and a copper phthalocyanine blue dye to form a manufactured inorganic storage phosphor layer; and   where the manufactured inorganic storage phosphor panel has a barium exposed edge leaching rate that is ⅓ or less than that of a solvent coated panel.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , where the barium exposed edge leaching rate that is ¾ less than that of a solvent coated panel. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising melt extruding, injection molding or hot pressing materials comprising the at least one polymer with or without a light absorbing material to form a support in the manufactured inorganic storage phosphor panel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 exposing the manufactured inorganic storage phosphor panel to x-rays to form a latent image; and
 exposing the latent image in the manufactured inorganic storage phosphor panel to excitation light to generate a digital image of the latent image.