Experiment 1 - Mylar 1

 Cell:

• Cathode:  3.5 cm of exposed 0.25mm Ag wire as close as possible to 1 cm x 2 cm Landauer CR-39 chip.
  • half of CR-39 is covered with 6 micron mylar film glued on the edges with quick curing clear epxoy  

• Anode:  Approximately 20 cm of 0.3mm Pt wire  
• WITH magnets

 Electrolyte:

• 33 gm D2O + 0.42 gm LiCl + 0.176 gm PdCl2

 Procedure:

• 0.28 mA for 8 hours (1 mA/cm^2)
• 0.83 mA for 8 hours (3 mA/cm^2)
• 1.37 mA until clear – 12 days (5 mA/cm^2)
• 5 mA for 24 hours
• 10 mA for 24 hours
• 25 mA for 24 hours
• 50 mA for 24 hours
• 100 mA for 48 hours

Etch:

• 6.5M NaOH at 68°C for 90 minutes

Results (Started on 12.26.06 Ended on 1.14.07):

• 2 weeks into the run, it is obvious that the adhesive has been adversely affected by the electrolyte.  It has swollen and is pulling the cathode wire AWAY from the CR-39.

• End of Run observations:

  • cathode was held nearly 0.1 inches from CR-39

  • obvious tracks PRE-ETCH

200x	400x
Back where wire touches	Front at top where wire touches

• After 30 minutes etching, track like damage can be seen on the exposed part of the chip leading up to the adhesive line.  No damage under the Mylar.