A new methodology for studying neutron absorber materials first results with boron carbide.

International audienceThis paper presents a new methodology used to study transmutation damage in boron carbide (B$_4$C). B$_4$C samples were set in a specially designed sample holder and irradiated in a neutron thermal flux in the ILL reactor. After describing the sample holder and the irradiation conditions, this paper discusses the results of the first post-irradiation examinations by secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results obtained for a B$_4$C disc with natural boron composition prove the efficiency of the methodology