[100]-TEXTURED DIAMOND FILMS FOR TRIBOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS

Application of CVD diamond films as hard coating on tools may offer, i n addition to their mechanical properties, also low friction coefficie nt. In this sense [100]-textured films are potentially advantageous ov er non-textured films due to their lower roughness. In the present wor k we demonstrate the capability to deposit [100]-textured diamond film s on steel substrates coated with a nitrided chromium thin interlayer, and assess their tribological properties. The [100]-textured diamond films were deposited by MW-PACVD using a methane-hydrogen gas mixture with the addition of minute amounts of nitrogen in the ppm level. Cont inuous, textured films of good adhesion, and improved tribological pro perties were obtained. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spect roscopy and friction coefficient measurements were used for characteri zation of the deposited films. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.