Diamond has long held a special place in the hearts and minds both of scientists and the public at large. It is the hardest material known and has the highest thermal conductivity among all known materials. Combined with these important properties, diamond has very low thermal expansion and high electrical resistance. The mid-1990s saw the market for diamond, diamond-like, and CBN thin films and coated products take off. Several new technologies emerged during this period. These included arc jet plasma, microwave plasma and their modifications, the interactive laser technique, and a technique to produce nanocrystalline diamond films using fullerenes in an argon atmosphere. Another technique, known "alpha diamond technology," commercialized DLC-coated shaving blades. Diamond, diamond-like, and CBN films have moved from a gestation period to commercial reality. Since the advent of these new technologies, diamond and diamond-like films and coated products have reached a greater level of activity in their applications. Currently, established market segments exist for shaving blades, cutting tool inserts, wear-resistant parts and automotive components, thermal-management substrates, recording and print heads, protective windows, and sunglasses.
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