The Induced Changes in the Bulk Etch Rate and the Thermal Stability of PADC by the Effect of Long Storing Time at Room Temperature and Heat Treatment

Abstract

The samples of poly allyl diglycol carbonate PADC (CR-39) (stored and fresh samples) polymer track detectors have been heated at different annealing temperatures and different annealing times. The thermal stability has been studied for different annealed samples; it was also examined as a function of the storage time. The percentage degree of crystallinity has been studied for different annealed samples and stored samples. The samples were etched in 6 M KOH solution at 70 degrees C for 3 h. The variation of bulk etch rate of isochronal annealed samples has been studied. The results indicate an improvement in the thermal stability of Poly allyl diglycol carbonate PADC; where the bulk etch rate increases with the increase in the annealing temperature and annealing time. The storage time has no noticeable effect on the bulk etch rate of un-annealed samples, though the thermal stability of PADC improved with increasing the storage time.