Surface Properties of Diamond Coatings for Cutting Tools

In this paper diamond films, resulting from two Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) techniques used to deposit diamond on Hard Metal (HM) tools, are compared. Experimental assessments of film morphology, interface properties, diamond quality and homogeneity are presented, and related to the outcome of cutting experiments used to test the coatings performance in turning operations of Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) materials, a typical application field for diamond-coated tools. Tool life and wear mechanisms are analysed in comparison to those of a commercial CVD diamond coated tool, and of an uncoated tool.