Improvement in Abrasive Wear Resistance of Metal Matrix Composites Used for Diamond-Impregnated Tools by Heat Treatment

Elżbieta Cygan-Bączek; Sławomir Cygan; Piotr Wyżga; Pavel Novák; Ladislav Lapčák; Andrzej Romański

doi:10.3390/ma16186198

Improvement in Abrasive Wear Resistance of Metal Matrix Composites Used for Diamond-Impregnated Tools by Heat Treatment

Materials (Basel). 2023 Sep 13;16(18):6198. doi: 10.3390/ma16186198.

Authors

Elżbieta Cygan-Bączek¹, Sławomir Cygan¹, Piotr Wyżga¹, Pavel Novák², Ladislav Lapčák³, Andrzej Romański⁴

Affiliations

¹ Łukasiewicz Research Network-Krakow Institute of Technology, Zakopiańska 73 Str., 30-418 Krakow, Poland.
² Department of Metals and Corrosion Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic.
³ Central Laboratories, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technicka 5, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic.
⁴ Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30 Mickiewicz Avenue, 30-059 Krakow, Poland.

Abstract

This work presents the possibilities of producing a substitute for a commercial matrix material for sintered metal-diamond tools which is characterized by increased tribological properties required in machining natural stones and concrete. In this study, the improvement in wear behavior of sintered pre-alloyed matrix caused by a thermal treatment was investigated. Several mixtures made of commercially available powders were homogenized by ball milling and consolidated at 900 °C using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. During cooling down, the specimens were subjected to isothermal holding at 350 or 250 °C for 1 h. After consolidation, all specimens were tested for density and hardness, whereas selected specimens were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and flexural strength tests. The specimens made of BDCM50 powder (a mixture of the base and pre-alloyed powders in 50:50 proportion) shows excellent properties including σ_0.2 = 1045 MPa in the three-point bending test and HV10 ≈ 380. Resistance to abrasive wear evaluated in both three-body and two-body conditions in the MWT abrasion test was estimated at Ai3=18.1±3.9 μm/20 m and Ai2=95.9±11.8 μm/20 m, respectively. A series of diamond-impregnated specimens (segments) was also produced and tested for wear rate on abrasive concrete. The potential graphitization of the diamond grits was investigated using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. As a reference, both the base Fe-Mn-Cu-Sn-C and commercially available Co+20%WC alloy were used to compare selected properties of the investigated materials. It has been proved that heat-treated specimens made of the base mixture modified with pre-alloyed powders are characterized by increased hardness and resistance to abrasive wear. The BDCM50 matrix has a negligible effect on diamond graphitization and shows excellent field performance, which makes it a good potential substitute for replacing Co+20%WC in sintered diamond-impregnated tools.

Keywords: abrasive wear resistance; ball milling; diamond-impregnated tools; heat treatment; matrix; spark plasma sintering.

Abstract

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