DIAMOND SUBSTRATE INTERACTIONS AND THE ADHESION OF DIAMOND COATINGS

Formation of a diamond coating on a substrate requires a stable substrate surface, especially during early deposition stages. In many cases hydrogen and/or carbon react with the substrate surfaces to form gases or solid carbide layers, to dissolve carbon, etc., leading to changes in the diamond nucleation and growth. Certain substrate elements with high vapor pressures can also cause detrimental effects. All these interactions can affect the adhesion of the diamond coatings. Intermediate layers applied prior to diamond deposition might finally prove to be one of the best possible solutions for minimizing such detrimental substrate interface effects.