Spectral response of solvent-cast polyvinyl chloride (PVC) thin film used as a long-term UV dosimeter

•We determined the best concentration of PVC/THF solution used to prepare PVC dosimeters.•We determined the best film thickness of PVC dosimeter used for measuring UV exposure.•We measured the spectral response of the PVC dosimeter using three different techniques. The spectral response of solvent-cast polyvinyl chloride (PVC) thin film suitable for use as a long-term UV dosimeter has been determined by measuring the UV induced change in the 1064cm−1 peak intensity of the PVC’s infrared (IR) spectra as a function of the wavelength of the incident radiation. Measurements using cut-off filters, narrow band-pass filters and monochromatic radiation showed that the 16μm PVC film responds mainly to the UVB band. The maximum response was at 290nm and decreasing exponentially with wavelength up to about 340nm independent of temperature and exposure dose. The most suitable concentration (W/V%) of PVC/Tetrahydrofuran solution was found to be 10% and the best thickness for the dosimeter was determined as 16μm.