Study of pyrolytic carbon films for non-emitting grid applications

Abstract

Pyrolytic carbon films were prepared on a hot substrate inside UHV system back-filled with 6 × 10 −5 Torr of CH 4. The resulting films showed two different chemical states of carbon; carbides formed on W and Ta substrates and graphitic carbon layers were yound on ?. Ir substrate. Alter BaO deposition, the carbides showed a work function too low to be useful as grids. On the other hand, the work function of pyrolytic carbon films were high both before and after Ba or BaO coverage. Study of the degradation mechanisms of carbon films, formed by e-bean techniques, however, showed that they also reacted rapidly with W and T 2 resulting in a carbide formation. Thus it suggested that in the application of pyrolytic graphite grids, contact with carbide-forming metals should be avoided. Interaction of the pyrolytic carbon with BaO also resulted in the removal of carbon. However, this “leeching” phenomenon projects a life for pyrolytic graphite grids much longer than actually observed in the tube tests. The diffusion of Ba and BaO through pyrolytic carbon layer was evident in this workm but its precise relation to life failure rate is not yet understood.