Evaluation of CR-39 Track Parameters by Utilizing Chemical Organic Additives to NaOH Etchant

Abstract

The nuclear track detector, CR-39, is widely used for detecting Alpha-particles which produce latent tracks on it and can be enlarged by using a suitable chemical etchant to be visible under an optical microscope. The commonly used etchant is an aqueous 6.25 N solution of NaOH at 70° C. The behavior of the track parameters were studied at different etching times using direct measurements of the track opening diameters. These parameters were re-evaluated after adding some organic solution to the Sodium Hydroxide etchant to improve the etching conditions and so the quality of the tracks. These parameters including the track density, track diameter, the bulk, and the track etch rates, as well as track length, and depth. It has been found that Methanol and Ethanol additives led to a decrease of the bulk and track etch rates but with about 30% increasing of the track etch rate ratio compared with their values in case of using NaOH without any additives. In the case of using Benzene and Acetone additives, there is no remarkable changes in these parameters. On the other hand, the etching efficiency was increasing more than the double in case of Methanol and Ethanol and decreasing near the half in case of benzene and acetone.