title: Testing CR-39 for surface alpha contamination monitoring.
abstract: Alpha-track detectors made of CR-39 plastic were successfully tested in monitoring surface alpha contamination in decontamination and decommissioning. The alpha registration efficiency was about 70%. At 3.7 Bq cm-2 a 10:1 signal-to-noise response was obtained after a 100-min exposure. The alpha-track detector maps small-scale spacial variability of alpha contamination that conventional survey meters cannot. The detector recognizes hot particles. Small-sized detectors are deployable in difficult-to-access locations such as cracks or under tightly fitting equipment where dirt resists easy removal.
authors.affiliation: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN 37831-6383.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Gammage
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Wheeler
mesh_terms: D000512:Alpha Particles; D002138:Calibration; D010969:Plastics; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; C028827:CR 39; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols