Formation of a diamond coating on a substrate requires a stable substr
ate surface, especially during early deposition stages. In many cases
hydrogen and/or carbon react with the substrate surfaces to form gases
or solid carbide layers, to dissolve carbon, etc., leading to changes
in the diamond nucleation and growth. Certain substrate elements with
high vapor pressures can also cause detrimental effects. All these in
teractions can affect the adhesion of the diamond coatings. Intermedia
te layers applied prior to diamond deposition might finally prove to b
e one of the best possible solutions for minimizing such detrimental s
ubstrate interface effects.