Composite intermediate layer for CVD diamond film on steel substrate

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe union of the unique diamond properties with steel (most common substrate material) provides a new solution for machine parts under critical mechanical conditions and severe environmental. However, CVD diamond coating directly on steel comes with several issues. The fundamental reasons for the lack of adhesion are an iron catalytic effect, the high carbon solubility in iron and high mismatch in thermal expansion coefficient of diamond and steel. The use of interlayer may solve these issues acting as a diffusion barrier, for both iron and carbon, and match thermal expansion coefficients. Several articles describe the PVD deposition or electroplated interlayer. In the present study, the diamond film coated steel with an intermediate barrier deposited by laser cladding process. In this novel technique, laser irradiation melts the powder (preplaced) and the substrate surface to create the coating on a steel substrate. We used the SiC/Ti and SiC/Cu powder mixtures to create the intermediate barrier. Diamond film deposition was carried out in an HFCVD reactor (Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition). The samples characterization included X-ray Diffraction (XRD); Field Emission Gun - Scanning Electron Microscopy (FEG-SEM) and Raman Scattering Spectroscopy (RSS). Results showed that laser incidence dissociated partially the SiC powder, forming FeSi, Cu3Si phases. Further, the composite layer assisted the high thermal stress relief in steel/diamond interface.