Powder metallurgy technology at the service of diamond-impregnated tool production

Abstract

Different approaches to take advantage of powder metallurgy in the manufacturing of diamond-impregnated components were studied. Three different powders were used as starting materials; two pre-alloyed powders, based on Fe–Cu and Fe–Cu–Sn systems, and one pre-mixed Fe-based powder. Different manufacturing routes as a strategy to obtain tailored mechanical properties were studied, with the influence of alloying elements such as graphite, iron phosphide and Mn–Ni–B master alloy to reinforce the iron-based powders. Both uncoated and coated commercial synthetic diamonds were introduced in the systems to analyse the surface reactions that depend on both metallic matrix and processing parameters. Hardness values from 88 to 105 HRB were obtained with a wide range of transverse rupture strength values from 1250 to 1640 MPa. An appropriate combination of metallic matrix, alloying elements and processing parameters makes the materials analysed here suitable powders for the manufacturing of diamond-impregnated tools.