Structural and electrical properties of tracks of heavy ions in polyethylene terephthalate and mica

Abstract

An image of the entrance of high-energy ions of krypton, xenon, and bismuth on the surface of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and mica is obtained. It is shown that in both cases the tracks have the appearance of protuberances. The formation of protuberances is associated with the destruction of material in the region of the track, the formation of amorphous structure, and the removal of low-molecular-weight radiolysis products as gaseous substances. Storage of the irradiated PET samples in water and a weak alkaline solution for several hours changes the surface topography due to hydrolysis of the material and the removal of radiolysis products into the solution. The kinetics of etching tracks in a weak alkaline solution and the formation of pores are studied. The stream function, electrical resistance, and permeability of the tracks in KCl, LiCl, MgCl₂, and BaCl₂ electrolytes are measured. The surface charge of the tracks is calculated from these values.