ISO/ASTM 51275:2002

INTERNATIONAL ISO/ASTM
STANDARD 51275
First edition
2002-03-15
Practice for use of a radiochromic film
dosimetry system
Pratique de l’utilisation d’un système dosimétrique à film
radiochromique
Reference number
ISO/ASTM 51275:2002(E)
© ISO/ASTM International 2002

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ISO/ASTM 51275:2002(E)
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ii © ISO/ASTM International 2002 – All rights reserved

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ISO/ASTM 51275:2002(E)
Contents Page
1 Scope . 1
2 Referenced documents . 1
3 Terminology . 1
4 Significance and use . 2
5 Apparatus . 2
6 Performance check of instrumentation . 2
7 Calibration of the dosimetry system . 2
8 Procedure . 3
9 Characterization of each batch of dosimeters . 3
10 Application of dosimetry system . 4
11 Minimum documentation requirements . 4
12 Measurement uncertainty . 4
13 Keywords . 4
Bibliography . 5
© ISO/ASTM International 2002 – All rights reserved iii

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ISO/ASTM 51275:2002(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for
voting. Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75% of the member bodies
casting a vote.
ASTM International is one of the world’s largest voluntary standards development organizations with global
participation from affected stakeholders. ASTM technical committees follow rigorous due process balloting
procedures.
A pilot project between ISO and ASTM International has been formed to develop and maintain a group of
ISO/ASTM radiation processing dosimetry standards. Under this pilot project, ASTM Subcommittee E10.01,
Dosimetry for Radiation Processing, is responsible for the development and maintenance of these dosimetry
standards with unrestricted participation and input from appropriate ISO member bodies.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard may be the subject
of patent rights. Neither ISO nor ASTM International shall be held responsible for identifying any or all such
patent rights.
International Standard ISO/ASTM 51275 was developed by ASTM Committee E10, Nuclear Technology and
Applications, through Subcommittee E10.01, and by Technical Committee ISO/TC 85, Nuclear Energy.
iv © ISO/ASTM International 2002 – All rights reserved

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ISO/ASTM 51275:2002(E)
Standard Practice for
1
Use of a Radiochromic Film Dosimetry System
This standard is issued under the fixed designation ISO/ASTM 51275; the number immediately following the designation indicates the
year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.
1. Scope Dosimetry (TLD) Systems for Determining Absorbed Dose
3
in Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronic Devices
1.1 This practice covers the handling, testing, and procedure
E 925 Practice for the Periodic Calibration of Narrow Band-
for using a radiochromic film dosimetry system to measure
5
Pass Spectrophotometers
absorbed dose in materials irradiated by photons or electrons in
E 958 Practice for Measuring Practical Spectral Bandwidth
terms of absorbed dose in water.
5
of Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometers
1.2 This practice applies to radiochromic film dosimeters
E 1026 Practice for Using the Fricke Reference Standard
that can be used within part or all of the specified ranges as
3
Dosimetry System
follows:
2.2 ISO/ASTM Standards:
1.2.1 The absorbed dose range is 1 Gy to 100 kGy.
–2 13
51204 Practice for Dosimetry in Gamma Irradiation Facili-
1.2.2 The absorbed dose rate is 1 3 10 to 1 3 10 Gy/s
3
2
ties for Food Processing
(1-4).
51205 Practice for Use of a Ceric-Cerous Sulfate Dosimetry
1.2.3 The radiation energy range for both photons and
3
System
electrons is 0.1 to 50 MeV.
51261 Guide for Selection and Calibration of Dosimetry
1.2.4 The irradiation temperature range is –78 to +60°C.
3
Systems for Radiation Processing
1.3 This practice applies to radiochromic films of various
51707 Guide for Estimating Uncertainties in Dosimetry for
formats, including small pieces used to measure a single dose
3
Radiation Processing
value, strips used for one-dimensional dose-mapping, and
2.3 International Commission on Radiation Units and
sheets used for two-dimensional dose-mapping. Three-
6
Measurements (ICRU) Reports:
dimensional dose-mapping may be achieved by proper place-
ICRU Report 14 Radiation Dosimetry: X–Rays and Gamma
ment of any of these formats.
Rays with Maximum Photon Energies Between 0.6 and 50
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
MeV
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
ICRU Report 17 Radiation Dosimetry: X–Rays Generated
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
at Potentials of 5 to 150 kV
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
ICRU Report 34 The Dosimetry of Pulsed Radiation
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
ICRU Report 35 Radiation Dosimetry: Electron Beams with
2. Referenced Documents
Energies Between 1 and 50 MeV
ICRU Report 60 Radiation Quantities and Units
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E 170 Terminology Relating to Radiation Measurements
3. Terminology
3
and Dosimetry
4
3.1 Definitions:
E 178 Practice for Dealing with Outlying Observations
3.1.1 analysis wavelength—wavelength used in a spectro-
E 275 Practice for Describing and Measuring Performance
photometric instrument for the measurement of optical absor-
of Ultraviolet, Visible, and Near Infrared Spectrophotom-
5
bance.
eters
4
3.1.2 calibration curve—graphical representation of the
E 456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
dosimetry system’s response function.
E 668 Practice for Application of Thermoluminescence-
3.1.3 dosimeter batch—quantity of dosimeters made from a
specific mass of material with uniform composition, fabricated
1
in a single production run under controlled, consistent condi-
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E10 on Nuclear
Technology and Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee tions and having a unique identification code.
E10.01 on Dosimetry for Radiation Processing, and is also under the jurisdiction of
3.1.4 dosimetry system—a system used for determining
ISO/TC 85/WG 3.
absorbed dose, consisting of dosimeters, measurement instru-
Current edition approved Jan. 22, 2002. Published March 15, 2002. Originally
e1
ments and their associated reference standards, and procedures
published as ASTM E 1275–88. Last previous ASTM edition E 1275–98 . ASTM
E 1275–93 was adopted by ISO in 1998 with the intermediate designation ISO
for the system’s use.
15557:1998(E). The present International Standard ISO/ASTM 51275:2002(E) is a
3.1.5 measurement quality assurance plan—a documented
revision of ISO 15557.
2 program for the measurement process that ensures on a
The boldface number in parentheses refer to the bibliography at the end of this
practice.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 12.02.
4
6
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
Available from the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measure-
5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.06.
ments, 7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 800, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
© ISO/ASTM International 2002 – All rights reserved
1

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ISO/ASTM 51275:2002(E)
continuing basis that the overall uncertainty meets the require- 5.1.2 Spectrophotometer or Photometer, having documen-
ments of the specific application. This plan requires traceability tation covering analysis wavelength range, accuracy of wave-
to, and consistency with, nationally or internationally recog- length selection, absorbance determination, spectral band-
nized standards. width, and stray light rejection. Examples of appropriate
3.1.6 net absorbance, DA—change in measured optical wavelengths for analysis for specific dosimetry systems are
absorbance at a selected wavelength determined as the absolute provided by the manufacturer and in Refs. (3-14, 19).
difference between the pre-irradiation absorbance, A , and the 5.1.3 Holder, to position the dosimeter reproducibly in and
0
post-irradiation absorbance, A, as follows: perpendicular to the measuring light beam.
5.1.4 Calibrated Thickness Gage, with a precision of 62%
DA 5?A 2 A ?. (1)
0
of the film thickness (at a 95 % confidence level), if the film’s
3.1.6.1 Discussion—In practice, an average pre-irradiation
thickness is to be measured.
¯
absorbance, A , may be used to determine net absorbance.
0
NOTE 2—Documentation provided by the manufacturer of the radio-
3.1.7 radiochromic film-dosimeter—specially prepared film
chromic film dosimeter with regard to the film thickness and its variability
containing ingredients that undergo change in optical absor-
may be substituted for direct measurement of thickness by the user. This
bance under ionizing radiation. This change in optical absor-
information should be verified by the user by analyzing a representative
bance can be related to absorbed dose in water.
sample of films.
3.1.8 response function—mathematical representation of
NOTE 3—Some radiochromic film dosimeters contain a substrate which
the relationship between dosimeter response and absorbed dose
is not radiochromic. With such dosimeters the thickness is not measured.
for a given dosimetry system.
5.1.5 Packaging materials for radiochromic films, where
3.1.9 specific net absorbance (Dk)—Net absorbance, DA, at
applicable.
a selected wavelength divided by the optical pathlength, d,
through the dosimeter material as follows: 6. Performance Check of Instrumentation
Dk5DA/d. (2)
6.1 The performance of the photometer or spectrophotom-
eter shall be checked as specified in Section 7.4, and docu-
3.2 Definitions of other terms used in this standard that
mented.
pertain to radiation measurement and dosimetry may be found
6.1.1 When using a spectrophotometer, check and document
in ASTM Terminology Standard E 170. Definitions in ASTM
the accuracy of the wavelength scale and absorbance scale at or
E 170 are compatible with ICRU 60; that document, therefore,
near the analysis wavelength(s) at intervals not to exceed one
may be used as an alternative reference.
month during periods of use and as specified by the end-user’s
internal procedures.
4. Significance and Use
6.1.2 When using a photometer, check and document the
4.1 The radiochromic film dosimetry system provides a
accuracy of the absorbance scale at intervals not to exceed one
means of determining absorbed dose in materials. Under the
month during periods of use and as specified by the end-user’s
influence of ionizing radiation, chemical reactions take place in
internal procedures.
the radiochromic film creating or enhancing, or both, optical
6.1.3 Compare the information obtained in 6.1.1 or 6.1.2
absorption bands. Absorbance is determined within these
with the original instrument specifications to ensure adequate
radiation-induced absorption bands using a spectrophotometer
performance.
or photometer (See 5.1.2).
6.2 Check the thickness gage prior to first use and periodi-
4.2 In the application of a specific dosimetry system,
cally thereafter to assure reproducibility and lack of zero drift.
absorbed dose is determined by use of a calibration curve
Check and document the calibration of the gage at intervals not
traceable to national standards.
to exceed six months. Use gage blocks, traceable to national
4.3 The absorbed dose determined is usually specified in
standards for this purpose.
water. Absorbed dose in other materials may be determined by
applying the conversion factors discussed in ISO/ASTM Guide
7. Calibration of the Dosimetry System
51261.
7.1 Prior to use, the dosimetry system shall be calibrated in
NOTE 1—For comprehensive discussion of various dosimetry methods
accordance with the user’s documented procedure that speci-
applicable to the radiation types and energies discussed in this practice,
fies details of the calibration process and quality assurance
see ICRU Reports 14, 17, 34, and 35.
requirements. This calibration procedure shall be repeated at
4.4 Radiochromic film dosimetry systems are commonly
regular intervals to ensure that the accuracy of the absorbed
applied in the industrial radiation processing of a variety of
dose measurement is maintained within required limits. De-
products, for example, sterilization of medical devices and
tailed calibration procedures are provided in ISO/ASTM Guide
processing of foods (11, 13).
51261.
7.2 Calibration of Dosimeters—Irradiation is a critical com-
5. Apparatus
ponent of the calibration of the dosimetry system. Calibration
5.1 Components of the Dosimetry System—The following irradiations may be performed in several ways, including
shall be used to determine absorbed dose with radiochromic
irradiating the dosimeters using:
film dosimetry systems: 7.2.1 a calibration facility that provides an absorbed dose or
5.1.1 Radiochromic Film Dosimeters:
an absorbed-dose rate having measurement traceability to
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