Thermoluminescence studies of SIM card chips used in mobile communication providers in Turkey

The materials found close to human body such as IC (Integrated Circuit), USB and mobile phone can be used as a dosimetry. SIM card chip used in mobile phone is a silicon rich material and a potential candidate of dosimetry. In this study, thermoluminescence (TL) properties of the SIM card chips of three different operators in Turkey were investigated and analyzed as suitable or not for a dosimeter. Thermoluminescence properties of samples (chips) such as dose response, effect of heating rate, reproducibility and fading properties were carried out. The main results from these experiments are all SIM card chips show the thermoluminescence properties with different TL intensities. The chip which gives the best TL intensity exhibits a distinct peak around 230 ℃ and a shoulder peak around 130 ℃. The 230 ℃ peak is useful for dosimetric purposes because it is not easily affected by the thermal quenching and the fading. It has linear dose response between 10 Gy and 600 Gy.