STUDY OF THE NEUTRON RADIOGRAPHY CHARACTERISTICS FOR THE SOLID-STATE NUCLEAR TRACK DETECTOR MAKROFOL-E

In this work the track-etch method was employed for neutron radiography (NR) purposes. A combination of the solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD) Makrofol-E with a natural B converter screen has been used as the image-detector system. In order to determine the best radiographic conditions the image-detector system was irradiated up to neutron exposures around 6 x 10(10) n/cm2 and etching times varying from 5 to 45 min were employed to develop the Makrofol-E in a PEW solution a 70-degrees-C. The best image contrast was obtained for neutron exposures ranging from 1 x 10(9) to 2 x 10(10) n/cm2, and for 5 min etching time. For such conditions the track diameter obtained in Makrofol-E was 1.4 mum, the maximum measured optical density was 1.4 and the resolution power of the method ranged from 12 to 40 mum. The present results were compared with those reported by other authors using similar track detectors, and discussed according to the theory of the image formation in SSNTD based on the optical properties of a single track.