Improvement in abrasive wear resistance of metal matrix composites used for diamond-impregnated tools by heat treatment

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.

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

Original article: E. Cygan-Baczek, S. Cygan, P. Wyzga, P. Novák, L. Lapcák, A. Romanski, Materials 2023, 16, 6198, MDPI, Basel – doi.org/10.3390/ma16186198. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Adapted by the editorial staff of Diamante A&T.