An extended study of the etching characteristics of CR-39 detectors

An analysis concerning the bulk etch rate of different type of CR-39 subjected to a chemical etching in 5.4 N KOH solution at 80 deg. C is carried out in the present work. The response of PADC samples has been evaluated adopting the fission fragment track diameter method. A standard quality control program for etching has been set up by monitoring the electrical conductivity of the etchant. Since the properties of the etching solution are constant during the etching process the difference in the Vb values are connected to the intrinsic characteristics of the CR-39 plastic such as polymerization processes.