A study about electrochemical etching or increasing the sensitivity of the polymeric dosimeters for the registration of neutrons and alpha particles

The process of Electrochemical Etching for detection of heavy charged particles is a function of many different parameters such as physical parameters (Voltage, Frequency, Field strength), chemical parameters (the kind of material, thickness and dielectric constant) and the energy of the charge particles. These parameters play very important roll on the response of the detector. The kind of etchant is one of the most important parameters for the detection of heavy charges particles by solid state nuclear track detectors, specially the polycarbonate. A solution of potassium hydrate, ethanol and water shown to be the best etchant or electrochemically etching of the polycarbonate. In this research we have found, that the use of methanol, instead of ethanol, can introduce an effective etchant with higher efficiency. By the study of different parameter we could increase registration sensitivity for fast neutron induced recoils in one hand and decrease background and etching time, on the other. Despite the earlier supposition we could also register alpha particle track on polycarbonate detector using this etchant composition