Osipkov

This work deals with the possibility of using diamond-like coatings as protective layers applied to structural elements of a spacecraft. A technique for evaluation of thin coatings resistance to effects of ion radiation with the use of a focused ion beam was described. Results of stability studies of samples of diamond coatings on a substrate made of mono-crystalline silicon using the specified method are presented in this paper. The structure and mechanical properties of the coatings were investigated; the coefficient of diamond-likeness was also determined. It was shown that the resistance of coatings is greater than the resistance of a silicon substrate by not less than 2.5 times. A relation between the resistance of coatings to high-energy ion impact, the degree of diamond-likeness of a coating and its micro-hardness was established.