The effects of sodium fluoride content on the properties of fluorochlorozirconate glass‐ceramic storage phosphors

Abstract The sodium fluoride content in fluorochlorozirconate ( FCZ ) glass‐ceramic storage phosphor plates was varied to determine the effect on sample properties, including photostimulated luminescence ( PSL ) light output for computed radiography applications. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that increasing sodium fluoride content, in general, lowered the glass transition, crystallization, and phase transformation temperatures of the as‐made glasses. Spectrophotometry results showed an increase in transparency with increased sodium fluoride content. Portions of each glass composition were heat treated to precipitate europium‐doped, orthorhombic barium chloride crystals within the glass matrix, creating glass‐ceramic storage phosphors. PSL decay curves were generated for each sample after exposure to X‐ray radiation. Sodium fluoride content is shown to have a significant role in the optimized performance of these materials.