CVD Diamond: The Industrial Landscape

R S Sussmann, King’s College London, The Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK

It is now generally accepted that CVD diamond has fundamentally changed the way diamond can be used in industry and research. This new synthesis technique has opened applications in a wide range of fields including optics, electronics, microwave transmission, cutting tools, wear parts and others. Depending on synthesis conditions, CVD diamond can be made as a polycrystalline ceramic or as homoepitaxial single crystals. Synthesis conditions also determine the type of CVD diamond produced and it has been demonstrated that CVD diamond of many different grades can be manufactured ranging from dark material which can be used for mechanical or thermal applications to extremely pure material with excellent optical transmission or electronic properties. This paper will review the present range of applications pursued by different manufacturers and will attempt to survey the status of supply of raw material and products. This is important information required for potential end-users of CVD diamond.