Coating of diamond particles for production of metal matrix composites

Abstract

In an effort to produce more cost effective diamond to metal interfaces, mono- and polycrystalline diamond powders were coated with nickel alloys using electroless chemical deposition techniques. Ni–P and Ni–B coatings were deposited using an acidic and an alkaline solution respectively. These deposition procedures were preceded by a thermal surface functionalisation step and a sensitisation step using a Pd–Sn colloidal solution. Imaging by SEM and chemical analyses show uniform coverage of the coating, independent of diamond's crystalline planes, and having thicknesses consistently <200 nm.