1. Makrofol NTD Etch Tests March 2017 Edition
L. Patrizii, R. Soluk, V. Togo – University of Alberta

2. Tests of Alcohol
The following alcohol mixtures were tests, all at 65C with 6N KOH
3% new denatured ethanol
20% ethanol
20% ethanol + 0.2% methanol
21% ethanol + 1% methanol
20% original denatured ethanol
A solution with no alcohol was not tested in March 2017 but had been done in 2016

3. Pictures (4x magnification)
No alcohol, 15 hours
VB 1.5
LHC background
No Pb beam
20% ethanol + 0.2% methanol, 2 hours
VB 19
LHC background + Pb beam
21% ethanol + 1% methanol, 2 hours
VB 20
LHC background + Pb beam
20% original denatured ethanol
2 hours
VB 31
LHC background + Pb beam
Hard to do precise comparison due to different total etch values
Pb hard to find on new denatured ethanol sample
Pb visible to naked eye on other samples
Methanol does not appear to have a noticeable effect
Original denatured ethanol used to have a VB of 20 but now tests at 30 or 40, chemistry may have changed due to extreme age
On new denatured ethanol sample, left half is normal surface, right half is a finger print. Finger print has much better clarity and surface finish.
VB on new denatured ethanol not constant, 6, 10, 19, 56 (after 1, 2, 3, 4 hours)
3% new denatured ethanol, 3 hours
VB 14
LHC background + Pb beam

4. Pictures (10x magnification)
No alcohol, 15 hours
VB 1.5
LHC background
No Pb beam
20% ethanol + 0.2% methanol, 2 hours
VB 19
LHC background + Pb beam
21% ethanol + 1% methanol, 2 hours
VB 20
LHC background + Pb beam
20% original denatured ethanol
2 hours
VB 31
LHC background + Pb beam
Hard to do precise comparison due to different total etch values, in particular the original denatured ethanol has a much larger track size due to its unexpectedly high VB
Surface with original denatured ethanol is still white, it does not maintain a clear surface but surface “noise” features seem smaller
Could experiment with adding a small amount of methyl ethyl ketone or adding a small amount of new denatured alcohol to a 20% ethanol solution to see what effect it has on the surface
Pb beam spot on makrofol
Approx. 2.5cm diameter

5. Images from Bologna

6. 65C 20% Ethanol + 0.2% Methanol Makrofol exposed to LHC + Pb beam
2 hour etch times

7. 65C 20% Original Denatured Ethanol
Makrofol exposed to LHC + Pb beam
2 hour etch times
Images on the left used the old denatured ethanol
Image on right used 20% ethanol + 0.2% methanol

8. Methanol Effect Makrofol exposed to LHC + Pb beam 2 hour etch times
Image on left has 1% methanol
Image on right has 0.2% methanol (to be consistent with level found in analysis of old denatured ethanol)