Formation of diamond-clusters within a surface layer of carbon steelsrcast iron induced by excimer laser irradiation

A thin layer of diamond-clusterriron composite was formed near the surface of carbon steelsrcast iron after a repeated irradiation by a short-pulsed ArF excimer laser. The presence of diamond is characterized by SEM and Raman spectroscopy. The formation mechanism is discussed in terms of sp3-carbon aggregation in the locally melted carbon-containing iron. The catalytic effect of iron on the formation of diamond is further enhanced by the presence of high energy ;6.4 eV.photons provided by the ArF excimer laser, which acts as both a pyrolytic source for local melting and a photolytic bond-breaker. q1998 Elsevier Science B.V.