Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for depositing cubic boron nitride on a substrate, comprising the steps of: (a) heating a supported substrate in a vacuum; (b) supplying metal vapors into a zone between said substrate and a metals source, said source comprising a material selected from the group consisting of: boron, boron and a material selected from the group consisting of the elements chromium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, and a metal alloy consisting essentially of from 0.1 weight percent to 5.0 weight percent of at least one of the elements chromium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, the balance being boron; (c) introducing ammonia gas into said zone; and (d) generating an electrical field in said zone ionizing the metal vapors and gas atoms in the zone; whereby cubic boron nitride is deposited on the surface of said substrate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for depositing cubic boron nitride on a substrate, comprising the steps of: (a) heating a supported substrate in a vacuum; (b) supplying metal vapors into a zone between said substrate and a metals source, said source comprising a material selected from the group consisting of: boron, boron and a material selected from the group consisting of the elements chromium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, and a metal alloy consisting essentially of from 0.1 weight percent to 5.0 weight percent of at least one of the elements chromium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, the balance being boron; (c) introducing ammonia gas into said zone; and (d) generating an electrical field in said zone ionizing the metal vapors and gas atoms in the zone; whereby cubic boron nitride is deposited on the surface of said substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 including directing an electron beam onto the metals alloy source for providing the metal vapors by evaporation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the metal vapors are supplied by means of a sputtering cathode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the metal vapors are supplied by means of an arc discharge-type evaporation or sublimation process.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate is heated to between about 500° C. and 1100° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the ammonia is introduced in an amount providing a gas partial pressure between about 1×10- 4 torr to 8×10- 3 torr in said zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 6 involving generating the electrical field in said zone by imposing a voltage potential positive with respect to said source on a deflection electrode positioned between the substrate and the metals alloy source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the arc discharge-type evaporation or sublimation process involves the use of a hot hollow cathode.