Diamond is the hardest natural material known to man, with a low coefficient of friction and excellent thermal conductivity. These properties make it an ideal candidate for cutting tools. However, diamond is also extremely brittle, which limits its use in rough machining operations. As a result, conventional diamond tools are typically reserved for finishing tasks only. Despite the advantages of single-crystal and polycrystalline diamond tools—such as long tool life and high surface quality—they come with significant drawbacks, including high costs, poor impact resistance, and limited application range, which restrict their market penetration.
In the mid-1980s, a new trend emerged globally: "diamond coating heat." By the 1990s, developed countries had introduced diamond-coated tools into the market. These tools are produced using chemical vapor deposition (CVD), where a diamond layer is deposited onto a tool substrate at temperatures below 1000°C and under atmospheric pressure. This process results in a strong bond between the diamond coating and the base material, offering exceptional hardness, wear resistance, and impact strength. The combination of high performance and cost-effectiveness makes diamond-coated tools highly competitive and suitable for a wide range of applications.
Unlike traditional single-crystal or polycrystalline diamond tools, which are limited to simple geometries like flat rake faces, diamond coatings can be applied to complex-shaped tools such as indexable inserts, drill bits, and form tools. This versatility significantly expands the range of possible applications. Diamond-coated tools are widely used in machining non-ferrous metals and alloys, ceramics, engineering plastics, wood, composites, stone, and glass. With their long service life, broad applicability, and favorable cost-performance ratio, they have become a strong alternative to both cemented carbide and polycrystalline diamond tools. As technology continues to advance, the market share of diamond-coated tools is expected to grow steadily in the future.
Hubei Chengze Diamod Products Co., Ltd. , https://www.ryomaltools.com