Fracture Resistance of Diamond Coatings on a WC–Co Alloy Modified by Ion Implantation

Abstract—The effect of preliminarily implantation of chromium, titanium, molybdenum, niobium, and zirconium ions on the structure and wear resistance of cutting plates made of a WC–3% Co (VK3) alloy with a diamond coating is investigated. A positive effect of the preliminary implantation of zirconium and niobium ions on the crystal perfection of the diamond coating, an increase in the elastic compressive stresses at the boundary of the coating with the hard alloy base, and, ultimately, the wear resistance of the cutting plates has been established. The maximum cutting path on turning silumin (12% Si) by the coated unimplanted plates and the coated plates preliminarily implanted by zirconium and niobium ions under forced conditions is 7650 and 14 850 m, respectively.