Diamond-coated silicon carbide whiskers

Colloidal techniques have been used to seed SiC whiskers with submicrometer-sized diamond particles. The diamond and SiC particulates are co-suspended in an aqueous medium and cast to form highly porous bodies. Electron cyclotron resonance chemical vapor deposition is used to grow dense, polycrystalline diamond coatings on the seeded whiskers. The low packing density of the cast green bodies allows for infiltration of the growth zone beneath the exposed surface. Electron microscopy is used to estimate the coating thickness and depth of growth infiltration.