2003 Volume 89 Issue 3 Pages 375-380
Alpha-particle track etching (ATE) method is widely used for the observation of boron distribution in steels. In this method, cellulose films are essential. The cellulose film named CN85 has been used in almost all boron observations by ATE method as a standard film. Recently, however, the production of this film was stopped and the stock seems to be almost exhausted. Therefore, finding the alternative films is urgently required. For this reason, in the present research, the quality of the ATE image, the activation by neutron irradiation and other properties of various kinds of films were examined and the following results were obtained. Industrial nitrocellulose (INC-2 and INC-3) films preprocessed in a lithium nitric acid showed suitable ATE images and can be recommended as the first candidate for the alternative film. Another industrial nitrocellulose (INC-4) film shows acceptable ATE images without any pre-process or pre-heat treatment for surface modification. But after the irradiation of neutron this film becomes radioactive through the generation of 60Co. Therefore, it is necessary to handle this film in a hot laboratory as an activation material. Acetyl cellulose and cellulose triacetate films are the third candidate of the new recommendable film and the ATE images are inferior compared with the nitrocellulose films above mentioned.
