Why does domestic manufacturing matter?
Domestic manufacturing reduces procurement friction, improves communication with the technical team, and avoids avoidable uncertainty around foreign sourcing, lot consistency, and lead time.
Domestic Nuclear Track Detectors
American CR-39 Manufacturer
BlankSlate Innovation manufactures nuclear-grade CR-39 (allyl diglycol carbonate, also called PADC) track detectors in the United States for customers who cannot treat detector supply as a generic overseas commodity purchase. We cut, polish, and — when required — boron-coat each chip domestically, so federal, defense, national-lab, and university programs work with a US-based technical team from quote to delivery.
Need to place an order or request a quote? Head to our CR-39 ordering page. For the full product and analysis overview, see the main CR-39 page.
At a glance
Domestic Supply, Backed by Research
The facts procurement teams ask for first — where the detectors are made, what they cost, how fast they ship, and the peer-reviewed work behind them.
Country of Origin
United States
Cut, polished, and coated domestically with a US-based technical team.
Pricing
$1–$3 / cm2
$1/cm2 standard, $3/cm2 boron-coated, with bulk discounts.
Lead Time
3–14 days
Standard orders in 3–5 business days; bulk and custom by quote.
Peer-Reviewed
2 papers
Published CR-39 analysis and boron-coating work (Nucl. Eng. Tech., 2025).
Why it matters
Why Domestic CR-39 Manufacturing Matters
For ordinary classroom use, a detector chip may look like a small plastic part. For national labs, defense contractors, and sensitive research programs, provenance and supply chain matter as much as unit price.
Who needs a US CR-39 supplier?
Federal procurement teams, national laboratories, defense contractors, university nuclear engineering programs, and commercial radiation-detection customers who need a US-based source for schedule, quality, documentation, or program-security reasons.
What makes BSI credible?
BSI is a Texas Tech University spinout with peer-reviewed research on CR-39 analysis, including AI-assisted SEM large-area mapping work by D'Amico and collaborators in Nuclear Engineering and Technology (2025).
What should procurement officers ask for?
Ask about detector dimensions, coating needs, lot size, delivery schedule, documentation, and any program-specific sourcing language. BSI can then respond to the actual procurement constraint rather than a generic plastic-sheet purchase.
Why not treat CR-39 as a commodity import?
For sensitive measurement programs, detector provenance, lot consistency, and lead-time reliability can matter as much as unit price. A domestic source also gives program managers a clearer path for follow-up analysis, custom sizing, and coating questions.
Can BSI support custom configurations?
Yes. BSI can discuss chip size and geometry, boron coating for neutron work, bulk lot sizes, and full-service SEM mapping and AI track analysis for exposed detectors.
Data for decisions
How the Options Compare
The procurement concerns that separate a domestic technical supplier from a generic import.
| Procurement concern | Why it matters | BSI position |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic source | Reduces overseas supply dependence and sourcing review burden | US manufacturer of CR-39 (PADC) |
| Lead time | Programs cannot wait on uncertain imports or customs delays | Standard orders in 3–5 business days |
| Quality control | Detector consistency directly affects measurement quality | Research-backed CR-39 workflow, chips inspected before shipping |
| Sensitive programs | Supply-chain review may be required for defense and lab work | US-based technical team, direct communication |
| Follow-up analysis | Exposed detectors often need etching and track counting | In-house SEM mapping + AI track classification |
Frequently asked questions
Procuring US-Made CR-39
Is BSI claiming every procurement certification?
No. Procurement officers should confirm program-specific clauses directly with BSI. The practical claim is domestic manufacturing of CR-39 and a US-based technical supply chain — not a blanket certification list.
Does BSI support federal and defense buyers?
Yes. This page is written for procurement teams that need a US-based technical supplier for nuclear detection projects, national labs, and defense-sensitive programs. See our government and defense page for more.
Can BSI support custom detector requirements?
Yes. BSI can discuss chip size and geometry, boron coating for neutron detection via the 10B(n,α)7Li reaction, bulk orders, and complete analysis workflows. Boron-coating performance is documented in a peer-reviewed paper on boron nitride coatings for CR-39.
What should be included in a procurement inquiry?
Include quantity, required detector dimensions, coating requirements, target delivery date, documentation needs, and any sourcing clauses that matter to the program. That lets BSI answer procurement reality instead of just quoting a catalog line. Start at the ordering page.
Who is BlankSlate Innovation?
BlankSlate Innovation (BSI) is a science and engineering company with roots in nuclear research at Texas Tech University. We develop detector products, AI-driven analysis tools, and custom instrumentation for the nuclear, defense, and energy sectors. Learn more on our About page.
Next step
Ask BSI for the Right Configuration
If your program needs a domestic CR-39 source, contact BSI with quantity, sizing, coating, documentation, and procurement requirements — or place an order directly.