The failure behavior of diamond-coated die was investigated experimentally and analytically through finite element method (FEM) simulation in the present work. Diamond coatings were fabricated by straight hot filament chemical vapor deposition (CVD) passing through the interior hole of the drawing die using a mixture of hydrogen and acetone as source gases. The performance tests were made under real drawing condition. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for the study of coating wear after die service. The coating wear appears on two regions of the reduction zone: one is near the entrance where the contact begins, and the other is at the end of the reduction zone. FEM simulation was made for calculating the von Mises stresses distribution on the coating and substrate during the drawing process. The present work was of great practical significance for the improvement of drawing performance of diamond-coated drawing dies.
