Scanning of flat textile-based radiation dosimeters: Influence of parameters on the quality of results

Flat woven polyamide textiles were chosen for modification with nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) or 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). Such samples change colour from white to blue (NBT) or red (TTC) if exposed to ionizing radiation or UV light. When inhomogenously irradiated, a clear pattern of the absorbed dose distribution is visible to the naked eye. Performance of quantitative 2D analysis with the aid of a flat-bed document scanner was proposed. Most importantly, the application of a scanner is an easy method for the assessment of irradiated samples. Therefore, scanning parameters such as resolution, sharpness, scanning reproducibility and sample preparation were assessed in this work; and optimal parameters were chosen. The cause of uncertainty in the measurements is discussed.