University Nuclear Physics Labs
BlankSlate Innovation supplies CR-39 nuclear track detectors for undergraduate physics, nuclear engineering, and radiation education labs that need reliable class sets, fast domestic fulfillment, and experiments students can actually see. A charged particle etches a permanent, visible track into the polymer — so students measure radiation directly instead of trusting a black-box counter reading.
Ready to order a class set? Use our CR-39 ordering page, or review handling and etching guidance on the best-practice page.
At a glance
The numbers instructors need to plan a lab section — pricing, sizes, lead time, and class-set flexibility.
$1 / cm2
Standard chips from $1/cm2; bulk class-set discounts on request.
1×2 cm
1 cm × 2 cm and 1 in2 stock formats; custom cuts available.
3–5 days
Domestic fulfillment for standard orders, so labs hit the teaching window.
Alpha / Radon / n
Alpha exposure, radon exercises, and boron-coated neutron demonstrations.
In the classroom
CR-39 gives students a physical record of radiation. A charged particle damages the polymer along its path; after chemical etching, that latent damage becomes a visible track under a microscope.
Expose a CR-39 chip to a source, etch it, and view the tracks under a microscope. Students get more than a counter reading — they see individual particle damage, which makes CR-39 ideal for hands-on courses.
Common labs include alpha-particle exposure, track counting, radon measurement exercises, neutron demonstrations with boron-coated chips, and comparisons between exposure time, etch time, and observed track density.
BSI provides standard chips for small sections or bulk class sets for repeat use across a semester. Standard formats are 1 cm × 2 cm and 1 in2; custom sizing suits specific fixtures, source geometry, or microscope stages.
The number of students, number of lab sections, intended source or exposure method, whether chips need boron coating, and whether the class will do its own etching and microscopy. That lets BSI recommend quantity, format, and handling guidance.
Academic labs run on fixed calendars. Late detectors can miss the teaching window. BSI's domestic supply chain helps instructors plan around semester timing, repeat sections, replacement chips, and custom sizes without overseas procurement cycles.
Yes. Optical microscopy covers most teaching exercises, and for capstone or research projects BSI can discuss SEM large-area mapping and AI-assisted track classification, documented in our published research.
Data for decisions
Which CR-39 configuration fits each common teaching exercise.
| Teaching need | BSI CR-39 fit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha particle lab | Standard CR-39 chips ($1/cm2) | Good for track visibility and exposure-time studies |
| Radon exercise | Passive detector exposure | Supports classroom environmental-radiation modules |
| Neutron demo | Boron-coated CR-39 ($3/cm2) | Thermal and epithermal neutron sensitivity |
| Class set | Bulk ordering | Academic pricing available on request |
| Capstone / research | SEM mapping + AI analysis | Return exposed chips for a full particle-count report |
Frequently asked questions
The detector itself is a passive plastic chip. Safety controls depend on the radiation source and the etching workflow (heated NaOH) used by the teaching lab, which the instructor and institution's radiation-safety officer should specify.
Yes. BSI can discuss custom sizing, bulk quantities, and class-set packaging for university labs. Describe your section size and experiment on the ordering page.
Yes. Many labs use optical microscopy for teaching-level exercises. For advanced projects, BSI can also discuss SEM large-area mapping and AI-assisted analysis, detailed in our peer-reviewed publication on AI analysis of CR-39 with SEM large-area mapping.
Yes. For a turnkey introduction to radiation, pair CR-39 with our Learning Radiation Kit ($75), which is designed for classroom demonstrations.
Next step
Ask BSI about class-set quantities, academic pricing, and detector sizes for your next nuclear physics or radiation measurement lab — or place an order directly.