LiF thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLDs) are used by the US Navy to record radiation exposure of personnel. The Model DT-648 LiF:Mg,Ti TLD has been replaced by a new Model DT-702 LiF:Mg,Cu,P TLD. The DT-648 was used for many years and has undergone extensive testing to identify its pre- and post-irradiation fade operating characteristics. Studies have shown that the addition of copper increases the thermoluminesence sensitivity of the TLD for improved low-level radiation monitoring. This study evaluates various fading characteristics of the new copper-doped dosemeter using current equipment for processing of TLDs and calibrating to a National Institute of Standards and Technology standard source. The 57-week study took place at the Naval Dosimetry Center, Bethesda, MD, USA. TLDs were stored for various lengths of time before and after being exposed to a National Institute of Standards and Technology calibrated radiation sources. TLDs were then processed using current US Navy instructions and the resulting dose compared with the calibrated exposure. Both loss of signal and loss of sensitivity were evaluated. The results of this study have shown that the DT-702 TLD has no statistically significant change in sensitivity or change in signal with up to 57 weeks of pre- or post-irradiation time. The results of this study will increase the accuracy of exposure record keeping for the Navy and will allow longer issue periods. This will increase flexibility with international and domestic shipping procedures, as well as reduce workload requirements for dosimetry processing.

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A short-term sensitivity loss in LiF:Mg,Cu,P thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLDs) was observed and is described. Its observation occurred during a pre-irradiation anneal with a slightly elevated maximum temperature (5-15°C), which causes notable under-response (5-10 %) of the subsequent read at the recommended time-temperature profile (TTP), which has a peak temperature of 260°C. A subsequent irradiation and reading using the recommended TTP showed partial or complete recovery of the TLD's sensitivity. To the best of our knowledge, there were no publications on possible implications of a one-time 5-15°C overheat of LiF:Mg,Cu,P TLDs during anneal. This is not unusual when several readers with some variations in their heating cycles are used to calibrate and process the same population of dosemeters. A special test to identify if a small uncontrolled overheating of a dosemeter element has occurred was developed and tested. Two practical implications of the effect of a short-term sensitivity loss in LiF:Mg,Cu,P, e.g. inconsistency in results of metrological traceability verification and reporting of false neutron doses, are described in detail. Simple indicators of a small uncontrolled overheating are provided.