Metal-bonded diamond impregnated tools are being increasingly used in the processing of stone and ceramics, road repair, petroleum exploration, etc. Although the main tool wear mechanisms have been identified, the scientific background is inadequate and fundamental research has to be carried out to better understand the tool field behaviour. This work addresses the complex issues of modelling abrasive wear of the metallic matrix under laboratory conditions. The generated data indicates that the matrix wear resistance can be assessed in a simple manner; whereas tests carried out on diamond impregnated specimens may aid prediction of the tool life in abrasive applications.

For dry machining of mineral materials the Institute of Materials Engineering pursues a novel thermal protection shield concept for diamond tools, in which thermal insulating materials in diamond composite structures act as heat shield, which protects diamonds in deeper layers against high temperature and graphitisation. Before the effectiveness of this concept could be investigated suitable composites have to be manufactured. In this paper the powder metallurgical production processes of diamond-alumina-cobalt-composites with varying alumina and cobalt particle sizes, their microstructures and porosities are described. It could be observed that the distribution of small-sized alumina particles (<70μm) in the cobalt matrix is uniform and the porosity of the composite decrease.

Diamond 공구용 Co-0.5C-(15∼20)Cr-20Ni-8W-(2∼7)Fe 합금 결합제를 볼밍링(ball-milling)법과 기계적 합금화(mechanical alloying) 법으로 합성하였다. stearic acid의 첨가 유무에 상관없이 Co-0.5C-(15∼20)Cr-20Ni-8W-(2∼7)Fe 합금의 경우 6시간 동안 합금화된 금속 분말에서 미세 접합(micro welding) 형상이 균일하게 관찰되었다. stearic acid를 첨가하지 않을 때는 부분적으로 조대화된 분말이 형성되었으나 2% 첨가한 경우 미세하고 판상의 분말이 얻어졌다. stearic acid가 첨가된 복합분말을 열간 압축하여 기계적 성질을 평가한 결과 굽힘강도 1100MPa, 경도 46H(sub)Rc의 특성을 나타냈다.