The effect of coexistent gases during fission fragment irradiation on track etching in polyvinylidene fluoride film

• Published in: International journal of radiation applications and instrumentation. Part D, Nuclear tracks and radiation measurements Nuclear tracks and radiation measurements, 1986, Vol.11 (3), p.151-156
• Main Authors: Komaki, Yoshihide, Ohtsu, Hitoshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1359-0189; 1878-1691
• DOI: 10.1016/1359-0189(86)90006-3

We have studied the fabrication of a porous-membrane filter made from polyvinylidene fluoride film which was irradiated by fission fragments and etched chemically. Then, the effect of coexistent gases during fission fragment irradiation was examined. There has been no previous reference to the use of fluoropolymers as nuclear track detectors for examining the effect of coexistent gas during irradiation for the track emergence. It was found that the etching rates of tracks increased with O 2 and NO, decreased with NH 3 and SO 2, and were unchanged with N 2, in comparison with those in vacuum. The hole diameters were determined by measurement of gas flow rate through the holes. It was inferred that with O 2 and NO, some oxygenated species were formed, in vacuum and with NH 3 the crosslinkings proceeded, especially with NH 3, and with SO 2 the acidic products adsorbed into the tracks neutralized the alkali solution. The effect on the track etching rate corresponds also to the shapes of each etched track in the micrographs.