PROPERTIES OF CHEMICAL-VAPOR INFILTRATION DIAMOND DEPOSITED IN A DIAMOND POWDER MATRIX

Densifying nonmined diamond powder precursors with diamond produced by chemical vapor infiltration is an attractive approach for forming thi ck diamond deposits that avoids many potential manufacturability probl ems associated with predominantly chemical vapor deposition (CVD) proc esses. We have developed two techniques: electrophoretic deposition an d screen printing, to form diamond powder precursors on substrates. We then density these precursors in a hot filament assisted reactor. Ana lysis indicates that a hot-filament-assisted chemical vapor infiltrati on process forms intergranular diamond deposits with properties that a re to some degree different from predominantly hot-filament-assisted C VD material.