Effects of Two-Step DC Electrochemical Pretreatment of Fine Grinding WC-Co Tool Surface on Morphology and Quality of Diamond Coatings

In the present investigation, diamond coating was deposited on fine grinding cemented carbide substrate by direct current arc discharge chemical vapor deposition. The effect of electrolytic etching time in the two-step electrochemical pretreatment process (firstly using electrolytic etching, and then using acid etching) on morphology and quality of the diamond coating were systemically studied. The surface morphology feature and quality of diamond coatings were characterized by means of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), laser Raman spectrometer respectively. The results showed that the electrolytic etching duration has distinctly effect on the quality and crystal features such as morphology, crystal type and grain size of diamond coating. It showed that as electrolytic current is direct current 3A, electrolytic etching time altering from 0.5 min to 7.5min, the surface morphology of diamond films gradually transition from microcrystalline cubic-octahedron to cauliflower type nanocluster, and further increase the electrolytic etching time, will lead to several negative effects on the quality and nucleation of the coatings which is not only retard the diamond nucleation, but also promote the formation of graphite.