Determination of the hydrogen content of thick tristearin layers prepared by physical vapour deposition

Abstract

In the frame of reference fluence measurements with a proton recoil telescope, solid layers with an areal density up to 25 mg cm⁻² and with well-known and stable hydrogen content above 12 % were requested on circular tantalum discs. Tristearin layers with an areal density of 10 mg cm⁻² were prepared by physical vapour deposition. The thickness was determined by accurate weighing. The hydrogen content of both starting and deposited material was measured by combustion analysis and the accuracy of this characterization method was good enough to demonstrate that the hydrogen content remains unchanged under thermal treatment.