Boron carbide as atomic oxygen protection for the Lexan-carbon filter on the ROSAT wide-field camera

Barry J. Kent; Bruce Miles Swinyard; Hans-Joerg Maier; Dagmar Frischke

doi:10.1117/12.51249

1 January 1992 Boron carbide as atomic oxygen protection for the Lexan-carbon filter on the ROSAT wide-field camera

Barry J. Kent, Bruce Miles Swinyard, Hans-Joerg Maier, Dagmar Frischke

Proceedings Volume 1546, Multilayer and Grazing Incidence X-Ray/EUV Optics; (1992) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.51249
Event: San Diego, '91, 1991, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The ROSAT Wide Field Camera, launched in June 1990, uses large area (50 cm2) thin film (typically 0.5 micrometers thick), band pass filters to select different extreme ultra violet wavelength bands. One of the filters consists of a substrate of the plastic polycarbonate, Lexan$DAG, interleaved with carbon and is thus susceptible to erosion by atomic oxygen in the ROSAT low earth orbit at 580 km altitude. The filter was protected against this erosion mechanism by using a thin overcoating of boron carbide. We describe the boron carbide coating process, the technique used to minimize the heat load on the fragile plastic foil, and the need for an additional adhesion layer of carbon. The chemical composition of the boron carbide as evaporated material on glass slides has been measured using several surface science techniques as well as by analysis of the soft x-ray and EUV transmission of sample foils and completed flight filters. Additionally, using ion and atomic oxygen sources, the effectiveness of the coating has been evaluated by laboratory measurements on sample foils.

Citation Download Citation

Barry J. Kent, Bruce Miles Swinyard, Hans-Joerg Maier, and Dagmar Frischke "Boron carbide as atomic oxygen protection for the Lexan-carbon filter on the ROSAT wide-field camera", Proc. SPIE 1546, Multilayer and Grazing Incidence X-Ray/EUV Optics, (1 January 1992); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.51249

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available