Fundamentals on Synthesis and Properties of Ultrananocrystalline Diamond (UNCD™) Coatings

This chapter describes the fundamental and applied science underlying the synthesis of UNCD films, using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD), and systematic characterization of the mechanical (hardness), tribological (coefficient of friction and surface resistance to wear), chemical (resistance to chemical attach by corrosive liquids and other environments, including body fluids), electrical, and biocompatibility properties of the UNCD films, which make UNCD coatings a multifunctional material for a new generation of external and implantable medical devices and prostheses with order of magnitude superior performance than current metals and polymers used in current medical devices and prostheses.