Laser approaches for diamond synthesis

US6203865A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• QQC, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Andrzej R. Badzian · State College, US
• Rustum Roy · State College, US
• Pravin Mistry · Shelby Charter Township, US
• Manuel C. Turchan · Northville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 20, 1999
• Grant date: Mar 20, 2001
• Expiry date: Jul 20, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C23C16/483
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method for producing well-crystallized adherent diamond layers on WC--Co substrates. An array of focused laser beams is scanned across the WC--Co sample. Useful lasers include the excimer, YAG:Nd, and carbon dioxide types. The process is conducted in open air with carbon dioxide and nitrogen gases delivered for shrouding the substrate. A luminous plasma is found a few mm above the WC--Co insert. The duration of the deposition process in a typical case is approximately 40 s. This typically gives 20-40 .mu.m thick coatings. The vertical growth rate is about 1 .mu.m/s.