The solid-particle erosion resistance of Ti-6Al-4V can be improved signific
antly by applying a chemical-vapor-deposited diamond coating under conditio
ns where physical-vapor-deposited coated substrates fail. In particular, di
amond coatings grown with relatively high methane concentrations (4-10%) in
the process gas atmosphere exhibit superior performance. The reason for th
is behavior is a higher in-plane strength of these coatings due to growth d
efects like twin formation and secondary nucleation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scie
nce S.A. All rights reserved.