TRIBOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF METAL-BONDED DIAMOND GRINDING WHEELS

The field of metal-bonded diamond grinding wheels and saws is described. The production of these tools is an important part of the industrial-diamond industry, yet methods of construction, formulation and use raise practical problems that have not so far received a comprehensive and fundamental appraisal. A theoretical approach to the subject is adopted in which the perfect wheel is considered in terms of a balanced system of matrix wear vs. the useful life of the diamond point. The discussion emphasizes the close association of grinding with tribology and explains how control of the wear of the metal matrix, together with the correct choice of diamond parameters, plays an important part in the performance of the wheel. It is stressed that lubrication during the grinding operation is the dominant factor in achieving maximum efficiency and economy. The metal matrix is considered with regard to both its wear characteristics and its diamond-retention properties. Some wear data for common matrices are quoted, and reference is made to the use of fillers to modify matrix properties. The relation of theory to practice is then brought into sharper focus by reviewing methods of manufacture and the influences that lead to the choice of suitable production techniques. © 1969 Powder Metallurgy.