Diamond is a material with outstanding physical and chemical properties. My research focuses on expanding the versatility of diamond coatings—currently limited to specialized applications—to enable their use across a wide range of industries.
We have developed technologies for controlling the surface roughness of diamond films and enabling diamond coatings on complex microstructures. These advancements open up the possibility of applying diamond coatings across a wide range of fields.
To improve energy efficiency during both the manufacturing and operation of machinery, cutting tools and mechanical components are required to withstand increasingly demanding operating conditions. Achieving this necessitates reducing friction and enhancing wear resistance on physically contacting surfaces. Our objective is to functionalize these surfaces using diamond—the ultimate wear-resistant material. Currently, diamond coatings are indispensable for tools used in machining CFRP¹; however, challenges such as the need for post-coating polishing and limitations in substrate geometry remain, restricting their use to specific applications. By overcoming these challenges, diamond coatings can be applied to molds and mechanical components, thereby unlocking their potential in a wider range of industries.
To address the challenges associated with diamond coatings, we have developed a novel diamond coating technology using plasma CVD². This method involves modulating the concentration of hydrocarbons—the carbon source in diamond synthesis—resulting in nanocrystalline diamond films³ with extremely low surface roughness. Furthermore, by applying a technique that combines microwave and direct current discharges, enabling plasma generation even on complex geometries, we confirmed the successful synthesis of diamond films. These technologies not only enhance the functionality of tools and molds, but also make it possible to apply diamond coatings to mechanical components such as gears. In addition, because diamond exhibits exceptionally high thermal conductivity, this approach also opens up new possibilities for applications such as heat sinks.
Specifically, this work is expected to lead to the following developments:
・Development of polishing-free diamond-coated molds
・Development of diamond-coated mechanical components
・Development of high-thermal-conductivity heat sinks
| Research | ||
|---|---|---|
| Journal | Nanomanufacturing and Metrology | |
| Title | Effect of Concentration Modulation on Mechanical Properties of Diamond Films Synthesized via Microwave Plasma CVD | |
| Author | Ryota Onishi, Ippei Tanaka, Natsuki Kawaguchi, Yasunori Harada | |
| Member | Ryota Onishi, Ippei Tanaka, Natsuki Kawaguchi, Yasunori Harada | |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.11420/jsat.68.399 | |
| Information on conferences, exhibitions, and other related events | Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is a composite material in which carbon fibers reinforce resin, and its use is expanding to reduce the weight of transportation equipment. | |
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