Elastic properties of boron carbide films via surface acoustic waves measured by Brillouin light scattering

et al.Surface acoustic wave (SAW) velocity has been determined by high resolution Brillouin light scattering to study the mechano-elastic properties of boron carbide films prepared by radio frequency (RF) sputtering. The comparison of experimentally observed elastic behaviour with simulations made by considering film composition obtained from elastic recoil detection analysis-time of flight (ERDA-ToF) spectroscopy allows establishing that elastic properties are determined by that of crystalline boron carbide with a lessening of the SAW velocity values due to surface oxidation.This work has been supported by Spanish MICINN under contracts MAT2009-08786, FIS2008-01431 and CSD2009-00013 as well as by the Madrid regional government though contract S2009/MAT-1756.Peer reviewe