59Ni ion track registration in cellulose nitrate CN-85

Abstract

Cellulose nitrate (CN-85, Kodak) nuclear track detector foils irradiated with 58Ni ions (15.36 MeV n ) at 45° at the UNILAC, Darmstadt, FRG have been studied for track registration parameters viz., track length variation with four different etching temperatures (51, 62, 71 and 80 ° C) using 6.25N NaOH, bulk etch and track etch rates, and respective activation energies. It is observed that the slope of the (d L/d V t) curves changes with increase in etching temperature under given etching conditions. Relativ track etch rate decreases with increase in etching temperature. The calculated activation energies of bulk and track etching are found to be 1.35 ± 0.016 eV and 0.95 ± 0.170 eV, respectively. Effect of UV on post-irradiated samples has also been studied and it is found that bulk etch rate is increased very much with UV exposure. An effort has also been made to investigate the possible use of CN-85 as a nuclear track filter.