A simple model to describe the anisotropy of diamond polishing

Recent theoretical and experimental studies have shown that the mechanism o f conventional diamond polishing into the so-called soft directions can be described by a form of mechanically induced degradation of diamond. This im plies a very local transformation of diamond towards the graphitic structur e under high non-hydrostatic stresses, resulting in easy removal of the mat erial. The proposed mechanism satisfactorily explains the anisotropic featu res in the polishing rate. Here we present a model, fully consistent with the description as outlined above, but focused on the hard direction and expressed in terms of the peri odic bond chain (PBC) vectors of diamond. These PBC vectors, which are also commonly used in explaining the morphology of crystals, allow for a straig htforward prediction of the anisotropy observed in the diamond polishing ra te. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.