INFLUENCE OF CR-N INTERLAYER PROPERTIES ON THE INITIAL-STAGES OF CVD DIAMOND GROWTH ON STEEL SUBSTRATES

In our previous works, Cr-N interlayers have been reported to be a suc cessful solution for the deposition of good adhered diamond films on s teel substrates, The properties of the Cr-N interlayer have been found to have a strong effect on the initial stages of CVD diamond formatio n. In the present work, the effect of different nitridation temperatur es on the initial stages of CVD diamond growth are reported. Surface m orphology, incubation time and diamond particle density at the initial stages of deposition were studied by High Resolution Field Emission G un Scanning Electron Microscopy (HR FEG SEM). Raman Spectroscopy was u sed to determined the quality of the deposited films, the presence of sp(2)-bonded carbon and residual stress in the diamond films. Phase co mposition and element profiles across the interlayer were investigated after different pretreatments and as a function of deposition time us ing X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and quantitative Electron Probe Microbeam Analysis (EPMA). Adhesion of the deposited diamond films to substrates nitrided at different temperatures was evaluated by the indentation t echnique, and was correlated with substrate surface morphology. (C) 19 98 Elsevier Science S.A.