Electrochemically Etched Makrofol DE as a Detector for Neutron Induced Recoils and Alpha Particles

The two-step electrochemical etching technique recommended for CR-39 has been applied to investigate the neutron response and alpha sensitivity of commercially available Makrofol DE using the same etching procedure at an electric field strength of 26.7 kV.cm-1. Energy dependence has been investigated using monoenergetic neutrons in the energy range 0.5 MeV to 14 MeV and monoenergetic alpha particles between 0.5 and 4 MeV. Neutron induced recoils are detectable above an energy threshold of 2 MeV. With a neutron response of 40 tracks.cm-2.mSv-1 and a background track density of 6 ± 2 tracks.cm-2, neutron dose equivalents of about 0.1 mSv can be detected. Combined with (n, a) radiators, Makrofol detectors can be used as thermal and fast neutron detectors. Alpha particles are detectable in the energy range 0.5 MeV to 4 MeV allowing an application in radon dosimetry.