A METHOD FOR PRODUCING A NEUTRON DETECTOR COMPONENT COMPRISING A BORON CARBIDE LAYER FOR USE IN A NEUTRON DETECTING DEVICE

摘要

Disclosed is a method for producing a neutron detector component (1 ) comprising a neutron detecting boron carbide layer (2) comprising boron-10 arranged on a substantially neutron transparent substrate (3). Disclosed is also a neutron detecting device (30) comprising a plurality of neutron detector components (1 ) arranged as a stack (32). The method comprising, placing (120) the substantially neutron transparent substrate (3) and at least one source of coating material (16) comprising carbon and boron-10 inside a coating chamber (10). The coating chamber (10) is then evacuated (146) to a pressure that is at most 6 mPa and at least a coating surface (3a) of the substantially neutron transparent substrate (3) is heated (144) to an elevated temperature that is at least 100°C. The method uses physical vapor deposition using the at least one source of coating material (16) when said pressure and said elevated temperature are reached, and coating (150) the neutron detecting boron carbide layer (2) comprising boron-10 to a desired thickness (t). The method enabling improved adhesion of the boron carbide layer to the substantially neutron transparent substrate.