ETCH-DELINEATION OF DEFECTS IN DIAMOND BY EXPOSURE TO AN OXIDIZING FLAME

An experimental study of the etching properties of defects in diamond using propane flame exposure in air is presented. Both natural diamond crystals and polycrystalline diamond films were exposed to a flame fo r an optimum time of 3-4 s. This process topographically delineates de fects in diamond via an accelerated etch rate at defect sites. Using t ransmission electron microscopy (TEM) to determine the exact nature an d density of defects present in the diamond, we have found a direct co rrelation between topographical delineation observed by scanning elect ron microscopy (SEM) and the defect structure observed by TEM.