HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT TESTS ON POLYCRYSTALLINE DIAMOND DEPOSITED OVER SILICON SUBSTRATES

The microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniqu e has been used to grow a polycrystalline diamond thin film over silic on substrate. Reactant gases of methane and hydrogen were used in the diamond CVD process. We have performed a feasibility test on the possi ble applicability of diamond and diamond-like carbon thin films for sp ace protective applications against artificially simulated hyperveloci ty impact of micrometeoroid particles of olivine. As-deposited films w ere analyzed by Raman and scanning electron microscopy for their chemi cal nature and morphology respectively.