Composition Modification of Electroplated Nickel Interlayer on Tungsten Carbide Substrate by Thermal Carburizing

Abstract:

Nickel enables nucleation and growth of well oriented diamond crystals from the small lattice mismatch between nickel and diamond. However, its solubility for carbon causes carbon loss during diamond deposition and, consequently, results in poor nucleation density. In this study, carburizing of Ni/WC-Co specimens in high temperature furnace with inert gas atmosphere was adopted to provide nickel with sufficient carbon prior to diamond deposition. This process was carried out using charcoal powder as source of carbon at different treatment temperatures (750°C and 850°C) and durations (20min and 60min). Effect of the process in altering the nickel layer composition was characterized by microscopy, element analysis, and phase identification techniques. Results show that carburization leads to formation of metallic phases, such as nickel carbide and nickel cobalt, which are considered beneficial for diamond nucleation and growth.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 845)
• Pages: 378-381
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.845.378
• Online since: December 2013
• Authors: Hassan A. Wahab*, M.Y. Noordin, S. Izman, Zakiah Kamdi, Denni Kurniawan
• Keywords: Carburizing, Electroplated Nickel, Nickel Carbides, Nickel Layer, WC-Co

References

[1] Z. Sitar, W. Liu, P.C. Yang, C.A. Wolden, R. Schlesser, J.T. Prater, Hetero-epitaxial nucleation of diamond on nickel, Diamond and Related Materials. 7 (1998) 276-282.

DOI: 10.1016/s0925-9635(97)00244-6

[2] P. C. Yang, R. Schlesser, C. A. Wolden, W. Liu, R. F. Davis, and Z. Sita, Control of diamond hetero-epitaxy on nickel by optical reflectance, Appl. Phys. Lett. 70 (1997) (22).

DOI: 10.1063/1.118756

[3] P.C. Yang, W. Liu, R. Schlesser, C.A. Wolden, R.F. Davis, J.T. Prater, Z. Sitar, Surface melting in the hetero-epitaxial nucleation of diamond on Ni, Journal of Crystal Growth . 187 (1998) 81-88.

DOI: 10.1016/s0022-0248(97)00854-3

[4] S. Rey, J. Hommet, G. Schmerber, F. Le Normand, Diamond growth on polycrystalline nickel silicides, Journal of Crystal Growth. 216 (2000) 225-234.

DOI: 10.1016/s0022-0248(00)00365-1

[5] Y. HayashiU, N. Shiraokawa, S. Nishino, Effect of bias-enhancement in diamond nucleation and growth on nickel, Thin Solid Films . 374 (2000) 268-273.

DOI: 10.1016/s0040-6090(00)01162-7

[6] Y.J. Fei, Xuejin wang, Xue wang, Yanyun Xiong, Kean Feng, effect of additional methane during the annealing process on diamond nucleation on polished polycrystalline nickel substrate, Applied surface science 183(2001) 173-181.

DOI: 10.1016/s0169-4332(01)00544-x

[7] Hassan A. Wahab, M.Y. Noordin, S. Izman, and Denni Kurniawan, Quantitative analysis of electroplated nickel coating on hard metal, The Scientific World Journal. 631936 (2013).

DOI: 10.1155/2013/631936

[8] S.P. Murarka , M.S. Anand , R.P. Agarwala, Diffusion of vanadium in aluminium and nickel, Acta Metallurgica. 16 (1968) 69–72.

DOI: 10.1016/0001-6160(68)90074-6

[9] William D. Callister, Jr., Material Science and Engineering an introduction. Sixth ed., John Wiley and sons, Inc, (2003).

[10] Josh S Gibson, Jamal Uddin, Thomas R Cundari, Nelli K Bodiford and Angela K Wilson, First-principle study of structure and stability of nickel carbides, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter. 22 (2010) 445503 (7pp).

DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/22/44/445503

[11] Hartsell M L, Piano L S. Growth of diamond films on copper, Journal of Materials Research. 9 (1994) 921−926.

[12] G. H. Gessinger, H. F. Fischmeister, A modified model for the sintering of tungsten with nickel additions, Journul of'the Less-Common Metuls. 27 (1972).

DOI: 10.1016/0022-5088(72)90025-2