Improving the etching properties and tailoring the response of CR-39 plastic track detectors with dopants

Abstract

ABSTRACT Following G. Tarie's discovery of the remarkable effect of a 1% addition of dioctyl phthalate to CR-39 monomer, we have cast sheets of CR-39 with no additive and with 1% of dioctyl phthalate, dioctyl teraphthalate, and diisodecyl phthalate. Sheets made from any of the additives are much more transparent after etching and the etched cones are more uniform than is the case with pure CR-39. In irradiations with Ar, Ne, C, and He, we find that the dependence of reduced etch rate, VT/VB-1, on Z/β is significantly different for the pure CR-39 and for each kind of additive. One can thus choose an additive that gives the optimal response for a particular application. All of our sheets with additives are more sensitive than those with dioctyl phthalate made for us by Pershore; our pure CR-39 is more sensitive than Pershore's pure CR-39.