X-ray window with stack of layers

A mounted x-ray window comprising:

• a housing including a flange encircling an aperture;
• an x-ray window mounted on the flange and spanning and covering the aperture;
• the x-ray window including the following layers in the following order:
• a top strong layer, a stress-relief layer, a bottom strong layer, an adhesive layer, then a support ring;
• the top strong layer located farther from the flange than any other layer of the x-ray window;
• the top strong layer and the bottom strong layer each include boron;
• the top strong layer and the bottom strong layer each include hydrogen, carbon, aluminum, nitrogen, or combinations thereof;
• the stress-relief layer and the adhesive layer each include a polymer;
• the support ring includes a hole that is aligned with the aperture;
• a bonding ring between the support ring and the flange, the bonding ring sealing the support ring to the flange;
• and
• wherein the support ring includes:
• ≥24 mass percent and ≤34 mass percent nickel;
• ≥7 mass percent and ≤27 mass percent cobalt;
• ≥43 mass percent and ≤64 mass percent iron;
• and a sum of the above mass percentages plus mass percentages of trace elements in the support ring equal 100 mass percent.

A mounted x-ray window comprising:

• a housing including a flange encircling an aperture;
• an x-ray window mounted on the flange and spanning and covering the aperture;
• the x-ray window including the following layers in the following order:
• a top strong layer, a stress-relief layer, a bottom strong layer, an adhesive layer, then a support ring;
• the top strong layer located farther from the flange than any other layer of the x-ray window;
• the top strong layer and the bottom strong layer each include boron;
• the top strong layer and the bottom strong layer each include hydrogen, carbon, aluminum, nitrogen, or combinations thereof;
• the stress-relief layer and the adhesive layer each include a polymer;
• the support ring includes a hole that is aligned with the aperture;
• a bonding ring between the support ring and the flange, the bonding ring sealing the support ring to the flange;
• a thickness of the top strong layer at the aperture is ≥2 and ≤10 times thicker than the stress-relief layer;
• a thickness of the bottom strong layer at the aperture is ≥2 and ≤10 times thicker than the stress-relief layer;
• and
• a thickness of the stress-relief layer at the aperture is ≥1.5 and ≤6 times thicker than the adhesive layer.

A mounted x-ray window comprising:

• a housing including a flange encircling an aperture;
• an x-ray window mounted on the flange and spanning and covering the aperture;
• the x-ray window including the following layers in the following order:
• a top strong layer, a stress-relief layer, a bottom strong layer, an adhesive layer, then a support ring;
• the top strong layer located farther from the flange than any other layer of the x-ray window;
• the top strong layer and the bottom strong layer each include boron;
• the top strong layer and the bottom strong layer each include hydrogen, carbon, aluminum, nitrogen, or combinations thereof;
• the stress-relief layer and the adhesive layer each include a polymer;
• the support ring includes a hole that is aligned with the aperture;
• a bonding ring between the support ring and the flange, the bonding ring sealing the support ring to the flange;
• a thickness of the top strong layer at the aperture is ≥800 nm and ≤4000 nm;
• a thickness of the bottom strong layer at the aperture is ≥800 nm and ≤4000 nm;
• a thickness of the stress-relief layer at the aperture is ≥50 nm and ≤800 nm;
• and
• a thickness of the adhesive layer is ≥20 nm and ≤300 nm.