Diamond fibres with soft ferromagnetic cores and a large magnetic shap
e anisotropy, were manufactured by chemical vapour deposition on to Fe
and Fe-Cr steel wires. The wire cores were carburised during depositi
on and had a hal hardness of similar to 550 kgf mm(-2) (54 GPa). The f
ibres had an electrical resistivity of similar to 153 mu Omega m and a
n elastic modulus of similar to 600 GPa. Magnetic hysteresis loops (ma
gnetisation v. applied field strength) and magnetic properties for the
diamond fibres were compared with corresponding data for Fe and Fe-Cr
wires. The fibres may produce composites with a unique combination of
properties. (C) 1997 The Institute of Materials.