Dear All,
I have tried several plastic tubes for closed loop radon measurements but I found that the radon can penetrate trough so many of them. It causes significant radon loss if the sampling is continuous.
Do you have any experience in case of different plastic tubes? Which one is the best?
Many thanks
Zoli
The most commonly used material is PVC pipe like that used for drain and vent pipe for plumbing. Although the specifications allow for schedule 20 PVC, using schedule 40 PVC which is much stronger and less apt to crack or break open. Schedule 40 pipe also insulates better and is thus quieter.
I've had a similar issue, and after some testing I found that pore-free, gasproof FEP-tubes work really well. I've experienced no measurable radon loss during continuous testing of several hours. These tubes are also quite flexible and not too expensive.
Dear Mushtaq and NBiels,
Many thanks for your answers. I will try them.
Zoltan
We used Tygon tubing. To check for solubility of Rn in Tygon we exposed cut up pieces tof it to high levels of Rn (uC) in a closed vessel, and then measured the activity of the cut up pircrd in a gamma counter. After the short-lived Rn daughters decayed we found no measurable activity decaying with Rn half-life. Another way checking for a Rn leak is to put such tubing, through which Rn is passing, into a closed vessel and measure if there is any Rn build-up.
Hi Zoltan, we have tested in our lab different material to minimize radon leakages. A good starting point is to tackle this issue in terms of radon diffusion coefficient. To do this, I strongly recommend the paper published by Jiranek et al ( Radiat Prot Dosimetry (2011) 145 (2-3): 178-183. doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncr043 )
http://rpd.oxfordjournals.org/content/145/2-3/178.abstract
Daer Colleagues,
Thank you for all the answers
José Luis
Thank you for the article.
I will download it when I will arrive back
Greetings from Rio
I thought you may utilize the following information:
Tygon® is registered trademark of tubing family manufactured by SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS. Tygon® tubings are made of different compounds with the use of: silicone, PVC, polyurethane, fluoropolymers, thermoplastic elastomers or other plastic materials.
TYGON tubing - Tubes International
www.tubes-international.com/tygon_tubing.html
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