Jiang Rongchao
(Changsha Institute of Mining Research, Changsha 410012, China)
Abstract Saw blades are indispensable for constructional applications, such as cutting granite and marble for building houses. Typically, the periphery of a saw blade is brazed with a multitude of diamond segments. Each diamond segment contains myriad particles of diamond grit that is embedded in sintered metal matrix. Traditionally, the metal matrix is formed by sintering of cobalt powder. But in recent years, due to the rise of cobalt prices, smaller particles of substitutional metals, notably iron and copper, are used. This trend also prompts a decrease of sintering temperature that is beneficial to avoid the degradation of diamond crystals. In this research, we reported the results of a systematic comparison of the cutting performances among diamond segments of various metal matrices. It was demonstrated that iron and copper could effectively replace more expensive cobalt without the compromise of cutting speed and tool life of sintered diamond saw segments.