A new chemical etchant for the development of fission and alpha tracks in CR-39 solid state nuclear track detector

The chemical or electrochemical etching is an essential step to enlarge the ion-induced latent tracks in solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs). In these methods, above ambient temperatures (∼ 60/70 deg C) and moderately high concentrations of alkali are required for about 6-32 hrs to enlarge the latent tracks. In the present work, the chemical etching employing a combination of 6 ml ethanolamine, 3.6 g NaOH and 9 ml water (from now onward called ESW) as a new etchant has been carried out for the first time to enlarge the both fission and alpha tracks in CR-39 SSNTD. The tracks developed in the CR-39 detectors etched at 70 deg C using ESW are compared with those etched with routinely used chemical etchant 6N NaOH at 70 deg C. There is a major reduction in the etching times for the development of fission and alpha tracks with this new etchant. The detection efficiency which is calculated from the experimentally measured bulk and track etch rates is also found to be increased. (author)