Interfacial microstructure and performance of brazed diamond grits with Ni–Cr–P alloy

Abstract

The reaction mechanism of the interface among diamond, commercial Ni–Cr–P alloy and steel substrate has been studied by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The reaction layers formed among diamond, brazing alloy and steel substrate produced good wettability of diamond grits for achieving better quality tools. The reaction layer between diamond and brazing alloy comprised a reaction layer of brazing alloy and a reaction layer of diamond. Cr 7C 3 and Cr 3C 2 formed in the reaction layer of brazing alloy was the main reason for improving the bonding strength of Ni–Cr alloy to the diamond grits. A reaction layer of diamond may be a graphitization layer formed on the surface of diamond under high temperature brazing. The reaction layer of brazing alloy and steel substrate was the co-diffusion of Ni, Cr and Fe between the brazing alloy and the steel substrate. The life and sharpness of brazed diamond boring drill bits fabricated in this study were superior to the electroplated one in the market owing to its high protrusion and bonding strength.