Abstract

Liquid metal films are selectively formed at the contact points between a solid metal surface and the peaks of diamond grains on a rough CVD diamond because of the lower melting point of the metal carbide than the metal. Diamond grains that form the rough diamond surface dissolve rapidly in the liquid films leading to a smooth surface of the same shape as the solid metal. A flat metal such as iron and stainless steel is used to rapidly planarize a rough CVD diamond.