What Is TASL and What Does It Provide for Radon and Neutron Dosimetry?
TASL is Track Analysis Systems Ltd, a Bristol, UK-based company that specialises in radon measurement, neutron dosimetry, and the manufacture of dosimetry-grade TASTRAK PADC plastic — the material commonly known as CR-39. It supplies both the detector material and the analysis systems used to read it, so it sits at two points in the chain: making the track-detecting plastic and providing the hardware, software, and laboratory services that turn an exposed detector into a measurement result. That combination makes it relevant if you need radon detectors, neutron dosimetry, or a track-etch analysis capability rather than just a raw material supplier.
What TASL actually supplies
The site groups its offering into a few clear areas:
- TASTRAK PADC (CR-39) — dosimetry-grade nuclear track-detecting plastic, described as the core material for radon detectors and neutron dosimetry.
- TASL Image systems — the analysis side, used for radon measurements, neutron dosimetry, and nuclear technology applications.
- Neutron dosimetry — a dedicated application area alongside radon.
- Radon measurements and radon services — detector supply plus laboratory analysis, rather than material alone.
- Supporting material — publications, downloads, and a list of authorised agents.
The distinction worth noting: TASTRAK is the plastic, TASL Image is the readout/analysis route, and the radon and neutron services are the applied end of both.
How the track-etch chain works
CR-39 records damage trails when charged particles pass through it. Those trails are far too small to see directly, so the workflow is:
- Expose the TASTRAK detector in the environment being monitored — a radon detector in a building, or a dosimeter worn or placed where neutrons are present.
- Etch the plastic under controlled chemical conditions so the latent tracks enlarge into visible pits.
- Image and analyse the etched surface, counting and classifying tracks to derive a dose or concentration.
TASL's role spans steps 1 and 3: it makes the plastic that determines what gets recorded, and provides the TASL Image systems that convert the etched tracks into numbers. The accuracy of the final result depends on both — the plastic grade and the analysis method have to match.
Radon vs neutron use
| Radon measurement | Neutron dosimetry | |
|---|---|---|
| What is detected | Alpha particles from radon and its decay products | Neutrons, via recoil or reaction tracks |
| Typical form | Detector placed in a room or building | Dosimeter worn or positioned in the field |
| What TASL provides | Detectors plus laboratory analysis services | TASTRAK material and dosimetry systems |
| Why CR-39 suits it | Sensitivity to alpha tracks | Track formation from neutron interactions |
Both applications rely on the same underlying property of PADC — it permanently records particle tracks — but the detector configuration and the analysis calibration differ.
Accreditations and reach
If you are choosing a supplier for regulated or commercial dosimetry work, the quality signals matter. TASL states it holds:
- ISO accreditation in laboratories across Europe
- HSE accreditation in the UK
- NVLAP accreditation in the USA
- Worldwide sales in over 80 countries across 5 continents
- Winner of the 2013 Queen's Award for Enterprise — Innovation
Those accreditations are the practical reason a laboratory or commercial operator would pick an established supplier over generic CR-39: the material grade and the analysis method are tied to recognised quality systems.
When TASL is the right fit
TASL is likely relevant if you:
- Need dosimetry-grade CR-39 rather than general-purpose plastic, because track quality and background affect low-level measurements.
- Want a complete route from detector to analysed result, including the imaging system or a laboratory service.
- Are working in radon monitoring or neutron dosimetry where accreditation and traceability are required.
- Need authorised agents or local support — the site lists agents, which matters for international deployment.
It is less relevant if you only need a one-off radon test with no interest in the detector technology, or if you are looking for a material unrelated to nuclear track detection.
Practical starting points
The site's own navigation points to where to go next: TASTRAK PADC for the material, TASL Image systems for analysis hardware and software, Neutron Dosimetry and Radon Measurements / Radon Services for the applied offerings, and Publications and Downloads for technical detail. Contact and Authorised agents are the routes for pricing, lead times, and regional supply — the site itself does not publish prices, so those have to be requested directly.