X-ray diffraction investigations of pre-irradiation annealed cellulose nitrate plastic track detectors

Abstract

X-ray diffraction studies of CA80-15 cellulose nitrate plastic Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTD) annealed at various temperatures have been carried out. These results along with the thermogravimetric analysis of unannealed detectors show that (a) the thermal decomposition of cellulose nitrate is a function of the annealing temperature, (b) the decomposed products are retained within the detector material up to a temperature of about 145°C and (c) the inter-chain separation increases with the annealing temperature and the interatomic binding is correspondingly weakened.