Color Changes in Gamma Irradiated CR-39 and Makrofol Nuclear Track Detectors

The effect of gamma irradiation on the color changes of CR-39 diglycol carbonate and Makrofol polycarbonate solid state nuclear track detectors was investigated. Samples from CR-39 and Makrofol polycarbonates were irradiated with gamma doses at levels between 100 and 2000 Gy. The transmission of these samples in the wavelength range 200–2000 nm, as well as any color changes, was studied. The Commission International de E’Claire (CIE units x, y and z) methodology was used in this work for the description of colored samples. In addition, the color differences between the non-irradiated sample and those irradiated with different gamma doses were calculated. The results indicate that both CR-39 and Makrofol detectors acquire color changes under gamma irradiation, but the Makrofol detector has more response to color change than that of CR-39.