Validity of the diameter-length method for determining the bulk etch rate of a CR-39 detector

This article tests the feasibility of using the diameter-length (Le-D) technique to determine the bulk etch rate (Vb) in a CR-39 nuclear track detector. The detector was irradiated with alpha particles energies: 5.3, 4.7, 4.1 and 3.5 MeV, which were emitted from a 241Am source. The detector was etched in a 6.25 N NaOH solution at 60 °C for periods of 1–10 h. The average Vb found by means of the (Le-D) method is approximately 0.76 ± 0.05 µm/h, which is consistent with the result found separately by the thickness-measurement method (i.e. 0.836 ± 0.06 µm/h). Moreover, the results show that the Vb of the CR-39 detector is independent of the alpha energies. This can pave the way for the use of the (Le-D) method as a reliable alternative method for measuring the bulk etch rate.