Thermally-diffused boron diamond and its production

摘要

A method for treating diamond for improving the oxidation resistance and the mechanical strength of said diamond crystals includes forming a mixture of diamond crystals, a source of boron, and inert particles. This mixture is heated at a temperature of between about 800 DEG and 1200 DEG C for a time adequate to diffuse boron into the surface of the diamond crystals for improving the oxidation resistance and the mechanical strength of the boron-diffused diamond crystals. The resulting diamond crystals have improved oxidation resistance and improved mechanical strength by virtue of having had boron thermally diffused into the surface of thereof.