The Definition of Diamond Segments

Diamond segments are the function parts of a metal-bonded diamond tool. The metal-bonded diamond tool can be a metal-bonded diamond blade, adiamond grinding cup wheel, a diamond core drill bit, a diamond gang saw blade, etc. The diamonds of a metal-bonded diamond tool are all in the tool's diamond segments to play their role of cutting or grinding.

Diamond segments consist of small-size diamonds and metal bond materials. The metal bond materials may include the powders of Cu, Sn, Fe, Ag, Co, Ni, WC, Mo, graphite, etc. The diamonds are mixed with the bond materials, and the mixture is loaded into molds. After hot pressing or cold pressing, sintering, and arc grinding, diamond segments are formed. The metal bond has two basic functions: One is bonding the diamonds to the body of the tool; the other is wearing along with the diamonds' wearing to let the new sharp diamonds be exposed properly.

Generally, a diamond segment has a working layer and a transition layer. The working layer contains diamond grains for cutting or grinding, while the transition layer has no diamonds. It just consists of bond materials, and is used to connect the working layer to the body of the diamond tool. The transition layer is necessary for diamond segments used on laser-welded diamond tools. The compositions of the two layers should not be very different. Otherwise, the junction of them will tend to break because of the uneven heat and forces received by the two layers when the diamond tool is in use.

The diamond segments used on large diamond circular saw blades or diamond gang saws for cutting stones can be layered and have some non-working layers separating the working layers. The working layers contain the common materials of diamond segments, including diamonds and metal bonding materials, while the non-working layers are usually made of metal powders. This design can increase the sharpness of the diamond segment, and lower its production cost.