Microstructures of metallic film and diamond growth from Fe-Ni-C system

The microstructures of metallic film surrounding diamond have been systemically studied using the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the atom force microscopy (AFM). The film can be divided into three layers (inner layer near diamond, external layer near graphite and middle layer). The graphite cannot be directly transformed into diamond in the film at HTHP; there exists a parallel relationship between (−111) of γ-(Fe,Ni) and (110) of Fe₃C in the inner layer; the sawtooth-like step morphology found by AFM on the film is similar to that of corresponding diamond surface. A new model for diamond growth at HPHT is proposed from the parallel relationship and sawtooth-like step morphology. It is believed that Fe₃C may be a transitional phase in the course of diamond growth, γ-(Fe,Ni) in the inner layer can absorb carbon atom groups with lamella structure from Fe₃C, and then the carbon groups stack on growing diamond.