Detection of charged particles by polymer grafting.

Tracks of fission fragments from a californium-252 source have been revealed by graft copolymerization. A 15 percent solution of propenoic (acrylic) acid monomer was reacted with irradiated cellulose triacetate for 24 hours at 55 degrees C. Copolymer forms preferentially at the track sites and it can be dyed with rhodamine B because of its acid and hydrophylic properties. After the dyeing, the tracks were seen by using fluorescence microscopy.