Characterization of Micro-Crystalline Diamond Tools Synthesized by HFCVD Process with Different Seeding Powders

Abstract

Synthesis of diamond films on carbide insert is a recent area of research in surface engineering. This research is carryout to know the effect of different seeding powders on diamond coating of WC tool by Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition (HFCVD) method. Here, the formation of microcrystalline diamond (MCD) on SPUN tungsten carbide (WC-Co) cutting tool insert is carried out. Basically, before coating in HFCVD method, the substrate cobalt content should minimize by ultra-sonic etching. The uncoated tools are seeded ultrasonically by Diamond, Iridium, Platinum and Tungsten powder at the same coating condition to observe the growth of diamond crystals. X- ray diffraction gives clear results of diamond plane and adhesion of coating. The purity of diamond crystal after coating can be clear by observing the Raman shift in Raman spectroscopy (RS). The tool is seeded with diamond powder gives more nucleation density due to the presence of more sp3 bond as compared with sp2. Use of diamond and platinum powder as a seeding material gives fully developed crystal and uniform coating during diamond film deposition by HFCVD technique, rather in case of other powder coating the discrete crystals were formed.