New Graetz Como 170 Boosts Lab Radiation Safety

In laboratory environments, radioactive hazards often lurk in microscopic realms invisible to the naked eye. When conducting routine monitoring in controlled areas, researchers face the dual challenge of capturing low-energy emissions while adapting to complex measurement scenarios. For scientific teams, selecting monitoring equipment that combines high sensitivity, efficiency, and ease of maintenance forms the critical first line of defense for both experimental safety and data integrity.

The CoMo 170 portable surface contamination monitor, developed by Germany's Graetz company, represents a professional-grade solution engineered to meet these exacting demands. This instrument integrates advanced scintillation detection technology, enabling simultaneous monitoring of α, β, and γ radiation—delivering robust technical support for laboratory radiation protection.

The CoMo 170's exceptional performance stems from its innovative dual-scintillator detection architecture. The device ingeniously combines ZnS (zinc sulfide) scintillator material with plastic scintillator films: the former specifically optimized for α-particle detection, while the latter handles β and γ radiation. Through sophisticated pulse-shape analysis technology, the instrument can distinguish between different radiation types in real time, ensuring both measurement accuracy and specificity. This integrated design significantly streamlines operational procedures, allowing comprehensive assessment of multiple radiation types without probe replacement.

Capturing low-energy emissions presents persistent technical challenges in radionuclide monitoring. The CoMo 170 addresses this with an expansive detection window featuring exceptional permeability. Even low-energy α particles from uranium-238 or weak β emissions from carbon-14 can be reliably detected. This high-sensitivity capability maintains remarkably low false-negative rates when identifying trace contamination, providing laboratories with quantifiable data for surface contamination surveys.

Recognizing laboratories' frequent monitoring needs, the CoMo 170 prioritizes operational simplicity. Its digital interface supports real-time unit conversion between cps (counts per second), Bq (becquerel), or Bq/cm² (becquerel per square centimeter), accommodating diverse data recording standards. The device also features preconfigured alarm thresholds that trigger immediate alerts when radiation levels exceed safety limits, enhancing on-site safety protocols.

Notably, the detector window employs a modular replacement design. During extended laboratory use, the thin-film window may sustain accidental damage. The CoMo 170 permits field replacement of window components without factory servicing, ensuring continuous monitoring operations and preventing measurement disruptions from equipment downtime.

For laboratories requiring regular radiation surveys in controlled areas, the CoMo 170 transcends conventional measurement tools to offer a complete safety management system. With nuclide-specific sensitivity calibration, it meets specialized requirements across diverse research and industrial applications. Currently deployed in laboratory A.3.82, the instrument remains available for authorized research personnel as needed. Through standardized monitoring protocols, laboratories can effectively track potential radioactive contamination risks, maintaining controlled and secure research environments.