Microscopic mechanism for mechanical polishing of diamond (110) surfaces
  Mechanically induced degradation of diamond, as occurs during polishing, is studied using total--energy pseudopotential calculations. The strong asymmetry in the rate of polishing between different directions on the diamond (110) surface is explained in terms of an atomistic mechanism for nano--groove formation. The post--polishing surface morphology and the nature of the polishing residue predicted by this mechanism are consistent with experimental evidence. 
M. R. Jarvis, R. Perez, F. M. van Bouwelen and M. C. Payne