# Use of polyethylene naphthalate as a self-vetoing structural material

## TL;DR

This paper explores polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) as a novel self-vetoing structural material with scintillation properties suitable for low-background physics experiments, demonstrating promising production and light output results.

## Contribution

It presents the first comprehensive evaluation of PEN's scintillation capabilities and mechanical suitability for use as an active structural component in physics experiments.

## Key findings

- PEN exhibits blue scintillation emission.
- Custom tiles show high light output.
- PEN's mechanical and radiopurity properties are favorable.

## Abstract

The discovery of scintillation in the blue regime from polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), a commonly used high-performance industrial polyester plastic, has sparked considerable interest from the physics community as a new type of plastic scintillator material. This observation in addition to its good mechanical and radiopurity properties makes PEN an attractive candidate as an active structure scintillator for low-background physics experiments. This paper reports on investigations of its potential in terms of production tests of custom made tiles and various scintillation light output measurements. These investigations substantiate the high potential of usage of PEN in low-background experiments.