Diallyl phthalate resin and its copolymers containing allyl diglycol carbonate as nuclear track detectors

Diallyl phthalate (DAP) and allyl diglycol carbonate (CR-39), and mixtures of DAP and CR-39 were cast into plates under the same polymerizing conditio ns. The plates were irradiated with alpha-particles, fission fragments or f ast neutrons. After etching, enlarged tracks on the plates were observed an d counted using an optical microscope. Pure DAP plate was found to have hig h detection efficiency for fission fragments, but to be insensitive to alph a-particles and fast neutrons. This characteristic was suitable for detecti ng fission fragments. On the other hand, pure CR-39 plate was convenient fo r the detection of alpha-particles and fast neutrons because of high detect ion efficiency and sensitivity, and short etching time. The copolymers of D AP and CR-39 showed intermediate characteristics. The fabrication of the co polymers made it possible to control the discrimination level for the detec tion of heavy charged particles. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.