Diamond Deposition on Iron and Steel Substrates: A Review
This article presents an overview of the research in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond films on steel substrates. Since the steels are the most commonly used and cost-effective structural materials in modern industry, CVD coating diamond films on steel substrates are extremely important, combi...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-07-01
|
| Series: | Micromachines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/11/8/719 |
| _version_ | 1797561480331132928 |
|---|---|
| author | Xiaoju Li Lianlong He Yuanshi Li Qiaoqin Yang |
| author_facet | Xiaoju Li Lianlong He Yuanshi Li Qiaoqin Yang |
| author_sort | Xiaoju Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article presents an overview of the research in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond films on steel substrates. Since the steels are the most commonly used and cost-effective structural materials in modern industry, CVD coating diamond films on steel substrates are extremely important, combining the unique surface properties of diamond with the superior toughness and strength of the core steel substrates, and will open up many new applications in the industry. However, CVD diamond deposition on steel substrates continues to be a persistent problem. We go through the most relevant results of the last two and a half decades, including recent advances in our group. This review discusses the essential reason of the thick catalytic graphite interlayer formed on steel substrates before diamond deposition. The high carbon diffusion in iron would induce severe internal carburization, and then voluminous graphite precipitated from the substrate. In order to hinder the catalytic graphite formation, various methods have been applied for the adherent diamond film deposition, such as pre-imposed various interlayers or multi-interlayers, special controls of the deposition process, the approaches of substrate alloying and so on. We found that adherent diamond films can be directly deposited on Al alloying steel substrates, and then the role of Al alloying element was examined. That is a thin dense amorphous alumina sublayer in situ formed on the alloying substrate, which played a critical role in preventing the formation of graphite phase and consequently enhancing diamond growth and adhesion. The mechanism of Al alloying suggests that the way used to improve hot corrosion resistance is also applicable. Then, some of the hot corrosion resistance methods, such as aluminizing, siliconizing, and so on, which have been used by some researchers examining CVD diamond films on steel substrates, are reviewed. Another way is to prepare diamond-like carbon (DLC) films on steel substrates at low temperature, and then the precipitated graphite from the internal carburization can be effectively avoided. In addition, based on some new findings, the understanding of the diamond nucleation and metastable growth is discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:14:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f2ea412f51be4757bad42ca4fa3765b3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:14:32Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj.art-f2ea412f51be4757bad42ca4fa3765b32023-11-20T07:51:33ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2020-07-0111871910.3390/mi11080719Diamond Deposition on Iron and Steel Substrates: A ReviewXiaoju Li0Lianlong He1Yuanshi Li2Qiaoqin Yang3State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, ChinaShenyang National Lab of Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, ChinaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N5A9, CanadaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N5A9, CanadaThis article presents an overview of the research in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond films on steel substrates. Since the steels are the most commonly used and cost-effective structural materials in modern industry, CVD coating diamond films on steel substrates are extremely important, combining the unique surface properties of diamond with the superior toughness and strength of the core steel substrates, and will open up many new applications in the industry. However, CVD diamond deposition on steel substrates continues to be a persistent problem. We go through the most relevant results of the last two and a half decades, including recent advances in our group. This review discusses the essential reason of the thick catalytic graphite interlayer formed on steel substrates before diamond deposition. The high carbon diffusion in iron would induce severe internal carburization, and then voluminous graphite precipitated from the substrate. In order to hinder the catalytic graphite formation, various methods have been applied for the adherent diamond film deposition, such as pre-imposed various interlayers or multi-interlayers, special controls of the deposition process, the approaches of substrate alloying and so on. We found that adherent diamond films can be directly deposited on Al alloying steel substrates, and then the role of Al alloying element was examined. That is a thin dense amorphous alumina sublayer in situ formed on the alloying substrate, which played a critical role in preventing the formation of graphite phase and consequently enhancing diamond growth and adhesion. The mechanism of Al alloying suggests that the way used to improve hot corrosion resistance is also applicable. Then, some of the hot corrosion resistance methods, such as aluminizing, siliconizing, and so on, which have been used by some researchers examining CVD diamond films on steel substrates, are reviewed. Another way is to prepare diamond-like carbon (DLC) films on steel substrates at low temperature, and then the precipitated graphite from the internal carburization can be effectively avoided. In addition, based on some new findings, the understanding of the diamond nucleation and metastable growth is discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/11/8/719CVD diamonddiamond like carbon (DLC)steelcarburizationgraphiteinterlayers |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoju Li Lianlong He Yuanshi Li Qiaoqin Yang Diamond Deposition on Iron and Steel Substrates: A Review Micromachines CVD diamond diamond like carbon (DLC) steel carburization graphite interlayers |
| title | Diamond Deposition on Iron and Steel Substrates: A Review |
| title_full | Diamond Deposition on Iron and Steel Substrates: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Diamond Deposition on Iron and Steel Substrates: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diamond Deposition on Iron and Steel Substrates: A Review |
| title_short | Diamond Deposition on Iron and Steel Substrates: A Review |
| title_sort | diamond deposition on iron and steel substrates a review |
| topic | CVD diamond diamond like carbon (DLC) steel carburization graphite interlayers |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/11/8/719 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xiaojuli diamonddepositiononironandsteelsubstratesareview AT lianlonghe diamonddepositiononironandsteelsubstratesareview AT yuanshili diamonddepositiononironandsteelsubstratesareview AT qiaoqinyang diamonddepositiononironandsteelsubstratesareview |