Multilayer amorphous boron carbide coatings: adhesion to the substrate and application to the thermal neutron detector

Boron Carbide is currently considered an interesting and characteristic material due to its excellent tribological properties and chemical stability. Mechanical properties, mean life-time and adhesion to the substrate are fundamental requirements to achieve useful boron carbide coatings in many applicative fields. In this study we explore the structure of an amorphous multilayer boron carbide coating produced by RF plasma magnetron sputtering as function of the titanium interlayer thickness deposited on a Si substrate kept at room temperature. Moreover, boron carbide coating grown on a substrate heated up to 600 K was investigateda,b. Deposited coatings were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-Ray Diffraction, Atomic Force Microscopy, and Micro-Scratch test. Finally, the efficiency of a thermal neutron detector prototype based on boron carbide coatings was preliminary measured and presented.