THE EFFECT OF ALPHA-PARTICLE DOSE ON THE THERMAL-DEGRADATION OF SOME SSNTDS

Non-isothermal studies were carried out using thermogravimetry (TG) an d differential thermogravimetry (DTG) to obtain the activation energy of decomposition for solid state nuclear track detectors namely CR-39 diglycol carbonate and Makrofol polycarbonate detectors before and aft er exposure to a-particles of initial energies at levels between 5.1 a nd 34 MeV. Thermal gravitational analysis (TGA) indicated that the Mak rofol detector decomposed in one main breakdown stage, while the CR-39 detector decomposed in two main breakdown stages. For CR-39 and Makro fol detectors an increase in activation energies was observed followed by a decrease on increasing the ct dose. Also, the variation of the t ransition temperatures with the cc dose has been determined using diff erential scanning calorimeter (DSC). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. Al l rights reserved.