Patent Description:
Infrastructure improvements, such as building additional roads and buildings, are vital to the continued economic expansion of developing regions. Additionally, developed regions have a continuing need to replacing aging infrastructure with new and expanded roads and buildings. As such, demand for construction remains high.

The construction industry utilizes a variety of tools for cutting and grinding of construction materials. Cutting and grinding tools are required for to remove or refinish old sections of roads. Additionally, quarrying and preparing finishing materials, such as stone slabs used for floors and building facades, require tools for drilling, cutting, and polishing. Typically, these tools include abrasive components bonded to a carrier element, such as a plate or a wheel. Breakage of the bond between the abrasive component and the carrier element can require replacing the abrasive component and/or the carrier element, resulting in down time and lost productivity. Additionally, the breakage can pose a safety hazard when portions of the abrasive component are ejected at high speed from the work area. As such, improved bonding between the abrasive component and the carrier element is desired.

From <CIT> there is known an abrasive article comprising:a carrier element, an abrasive component, the abrasive component includes abrasive particles, a metal matrix comprising a network of interconnected pores substantially filled with bonding metal; and a bonding region between the abrasive component and the carrier element.

The invention is directed to an abrasive article as defined in claim <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the abrasive tool includes a carrier element and an abrasive component. The abrasive tool can be a cutting tool for cutting construction materials, such as a saw for cutting concrete. Alternatively, the abrasive tool can be a grinding tool such as for grinding concrete or fired clay or removing asphalt. The carrier element can be a solid metal disk, a ring, a ring section, or a plate. The abrasive component includes abrasive particles embedded in a metal matrix. The metal matrix a network of interconnected pores or pores that are partially or substantially fully filled with an infiltrant. A bonding region is between the carrier element and the abrasive component and contains a bonding metal. The bonding metal in the bonding region can be continuous with the infiltrant filling the network of interconnected pores.

In an exemplary embodiment, an abrasive component includes abrasive particles embedded in a metal matrix having a network of interconnected pores. The abrasive particles can be a superabrasive such as diamond or cubic boron nitride. The abrasive particles can have a particle size of not less than about <NUM> mesh, such as not less than about <NUM> mesh, such as between about <NUM> and <NUM> mesh. Depending on the application, the size can be between about <NUM> and <NUM> mesh. The abrasive particles can be present in an amount between about <NUM> vol% to about <NUM> vol%. Additionally, the amount of abrasive particles may depend on the application. For example, an abrasive component for a grinding or polishing tool can include between about <NUM> and about <NUM> vol% abrasive particles. Alternatively, an abrasive component for a cutting-off tool can include between about <NUM> vol% and <NUM> vol% abrasive particles. Further, an abrasive component for core drilling can include between about <NUM> vol% and <NUM> vol% abrasive particles.

The metal matrix can include iron, iron alloy, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, chromium, titanium, silver, and any combination thereof. In an example, the metal matrix can include a rare earth element such as cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium. In another example, the metal matrix can include a wear resistant component such as tungsten carbide. The metal matrix can include particles of individual components or pre-alloyed particles. The particles can be between about <NUM> microns and about <NUM> microns.

In an exemplary embodiment, the bonding metal composition can include copper, a copper-tin bronze, a copper-tin-zinc alloy, or any combination thereof. The copper-tin bronze may include a tin content not greater than about <NUM> wt%, such as not greater than about <NUM> wt%. Similarly, the copper-tin-zinc alloy may include a tin content not greater than about <NUM> wt%, such as not greater than about <NUM> wt%, and a zinc content not greater than about <NUM> wt%.

According to embodiments herein, the bonding region forms an identifiable interfacial layer that has a distinct phase from both the underlying carrier and the abrasive component. The bonding metal composition is related to the infiltrant composition in having a certain degree of commonality of elemental species. Quantitatively, an elemental weight percent difference between the bonding metal composition and the infiltrant composition does not exceed <NUM> weight percent. Elemental weight percent difference is defined as the absolute value of the difference in weight content of each element contained in the bonding metal composition relative to the infiltrant composition.

By way of example only, in an embodiment having a (i) bonding metal composition containing <NUM> weight percent Cu, <NUM> weight percent Sn and <NUM> weight percent Zn, and (ii) an infiltrant composition containing <NUM> weight percent Cu, <NUM> weight percent Sn, and <NUM> weight percent Zn, the elemental weight percent difference between the bonding metal composition and the infiltrant composition for Cu is <NUM> weight percent, for Sn is <NUM> weight percent and for Zn is <NUM> weight percent. The maximum elemental weight percent difference between the bonding metal composition and the infiltrant composition is, accordingly, <NUM> weight percent.

Other embodiments have closer compositional relationships between the bonding metal composition and the composition of the infiltrant. The elemental weight percent difference between the bonding metal composition and the infiltrant composition may, for example, not exceed <NUM> weight percent, <NUM> weight percent, <NUM> weight percent, or may not exceed <NUM> weight percent. An elemental weight percent difference of about zero represents the same composition making up the bonding region and the infiltrant. The foregoing elemental values may be measured by any suitable analytical means, including microprobe elemental analysis, and ignores alloying that might take place along areas in which the infiltrant contacts the metal matrix.

Turning to the details of the process by which the abrasive component may be manufactured, abrasive particles can be combined with a metal matrix to form a mixture. The metal matrix can include iron, iron alloy, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, chromium, titanium, silver, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, the metal matrix can include a rare earth element, such as cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium. In another embodiment, the metal matrix can include a wear resistant component, such as tungsten carbide. The metal matrix can include metal particles of between about <NUM> micron and <NUM> microns. The metal matrix can include a blend of particles of the components of the metal matrix or can be pre-alloyed particles of the metal matrix. Depending on the application, the composition of the metal matrix may vary.

In an embodiment, the metal matrix can conform to the formula (WC)wWxFeyCrzX(<NUM>-w-x-y-z), wherein <NUM>≤w≤<NUM>, <NUM>≤x≤<NUM>, <NUM>≤y≤<NUM>, <NUM>≤z≤<NUM>, w+x+y+z≤<NUM>, and X can include other metals such as cobalt and nickel.

In another embodiment, the metal matrix can conform to the formula (WC)wWxFeyCrzAgvX(<NUM>-v-w-x-y-z), wherein <NUM>≤w≤<NUM>, <NUM>≤x≤<NUM>, <NUM>≤y≤<NUM>, <NUM>≤z≤<NUM>, <NUM>≤v≤<NUM>, v+w+x+y+z≤<NUM>, and X can include other metals such as cobalt and nickel.

The abrasive particles can be a superabrasive, such as diamond, cubic boron nitride (CBN), or any combination thereof. The abrasive particles can be present in an amount between about <NUM> vol% to about <NUM> vol%. Additionally, the amount of abrasive particles may depend on the application. For example, an abrasive component for a grinding or polishing tool can include between about <NUM> and about <NUM> vol% abrasive particles. Alternatively, an abrasive component for a cutting tool can include between about <NUM> vol% and <NUM> vol% abrasive particles. Further, an abrasive component for core drilling can include between about <NUM> vol% and <NUM> vol% abrasive particles. The abrasive particles can have a particle size of less than about <NUM> mesh, such as not less than about <NUM> mesh, such as between about <NUM> and <NUM> mesh. Depending on the application, the size can be between about <NUM> and <NUM> mesh.

The mixture of metal matrix and abrasive particles can be pressed, such as by cold pressing, to form a porous abrasive component. For example, the cold pressing can be carried out at a pressure of between about <NUM> kN/cm<NUM> (<NUM> MPa) to about <NUM> kN/cm<NUM> (<NUM> MPa). The resulting porous abrasive component can have a network of interconnected pores. In an example, the porous abrasive component can have a porosity between about <NUM> and <NUM> vol%.

In an embodiment, a tool preform can be assembled by stacking a carrier element, a bonding slug, and the abrasive component. The carrier element can be in the form of a ring, a ring section, a plate, or a disc. The carrier element can include heat treatable steel alloys, such as 25CrMo4, 75Cr1, C60, or similar steel alloys for carrier elements with thin cross sections or simple construction steel like St <NUM> or similar for thick carrier elements. The carrier element can have a tensile strength of at least about <NUM> N/mm<NUM>. The carrier element can be formed by a variety of metallurgical techniques known in the art.

The bonding slug can include a bonding metal having a bonding metal composition. The bonding metal composition can include copper, a copper-tin bronze, a copper-tin-zinc alloy, or any combination thereof. The bonding metal composition can further include titanium, silver, manganese, phosphorus, aluminum, magnesium, or any combination thereof. For example, the bonding metal can have a melting point between about <NUM> and about <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the bonding slug can be formed by cold pressing a powder of the bonding metal. The powder can include particles of individual components or pre-alloyed particles. The particles can have a size of not greater than about <NUM> microns. Alternatively, the bonding slug may be formed by other metallurgical techniques known in the art.

The tool preform can be heated to a temperature above the melting point of the bonding metal but below the melting point of the metal matrix and the carrier element. For example, the temperature can be between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. The tool preform can be heated in a reducing atmosphere. Typically, the reducing atmosphere can contain an amount of hydrogen to react with oxygen. The heating can be carried out in a furnace, such as a batch furnace or a tunnel furnace.

In an embodiment, as the bonding metal melts, the liquid bonding metal is drawn into the network of interconnected pores of the abrasive component, such as through capillary action. The bonding metal can infiltrate and substantially fill the network of interconnected pores. The resulting densified abrasive component can be not less than about <NUM>% dense. The amount of bonding metal that infiltrates the abrasive component can be between about <NUM> wt% and <NUM> wt% of the densified abrasive component. A portion of the bonding metal may remain between the abrasive component and the carrier element such that a bonding region consisting essentially of the bonding metal is formed between the carrier element and the abrasive component. The bonding region can be an identifiable region distinct from the carrier element and the abrasive component. The bonding region can include at least about <NUM> wt% bonding metal, such as at least about <NUM> wt% bonding metal, such as at least about <NUM> wt% bonding metal. The bonding metal can be continuous throughout the bonding region and the densified abrasive component.

<FIG> illustrates a cutting disk <NUM>. The cutting disk <NUM> includes a disk-shaped carrier element <NUM> and a plurality of abrasive components <NUM> attached to the carrier element <NUM>. A bonding region <NUM> can be between the carrier element <NUM> and the abrasive components <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a core-drilling tool <NUM>. The core-drilling tool includes a ringshaped carrier element <NUM> and a plurality of abrasive components <NUM> attached to the carrier element <NUM>. A bonding region <NUM> can be between the carrier element <NUM> and the abrasive components <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a grinding ring section <NUM>. The tool includes a ring section-shaped carrier element <NUM> that can be attached, such as by bolting to a support ring and a plurality of abrasive components <NUM> attached to the carrier element <NUM>. A bonding region <NUM> can be between the carrier element <NUM> and the abrasive components <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an abrasive-containing segment <NUM>. The abrasive containing segment can be attached, such as by bolting, to a tool. The abrasive-containing segment includes a carrier element <NUM> and a plurality of abrasive components <NUM> attached to the carrier element <NUM>. A bonding region <NUM> can be between the carrier element <NUM> and the abrasive components <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an exemplary abrasive component <NUM>. The abrasive component includes metal matrix particles <NUM> and abrasive particles <NUM>. Between the metal matrix particles <NUM>, the abrasive component <NUM> includes a network of interconnected pores <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an exemplary abrasive tool <NUM>. The abrasive tool <NUM> includes a densified abrasive component <NUM> bonded to a carrier element <NUM>. The densified abrasive component includes metal matrix particles <NUM> and abrasive particles <NUM>. In the densified abrasive component <NUM>, bonding metal <NUM> has infiltrated the network of interconnected pores and filled the space between the metal matrix particles <NUM>. Additionally, the tool <NUM> includes a bonding zone <NUM> consisting essentially of bonding metal <NUM>. The bonding metal <NUM> of the bonding zone <NUM> is continuous with the bonding metal <NUM> of the densified abrasive component <NUM>.

For example, Sample <NUM>, a grinding ring section is prepared as follows. A standard abrasive component is braze fitted to a carrier ring section. The standard abrasive component is formed by cold pressing of a mixture of <NUM> wt% diamond abrasive particles and <NUM> wt% metal composition. The diamond abrasive particles are ISD <NUM> having a particle size between <NUM> mesh and <NUM> mesh. The metal composition includes <NUM> wt% tungsten carbide, <NUM> wt% tungsten metal, and <NUM> wt% chromium. The abrasive component is infiltrated with a copper based infiltrant. The fully densified infiltrated abrasive component is then braze fitted to a carrier ring section using a Degussa <NUM> brazing alloy. Sample <NUM> is shown in <FIG>.

Sample <NUM> is prepared by infiltration bonding of an abrasive component to a carrier ring section. The abrasive component is formed by cold pressing of a mixture of <NUM> wt% diamond abrasive particles and <NUM> wt% metal composition. The diamond abrasive particles are ISD <NUM> having a particle size between <NUM> mesh and <NUM> mesh. The metal composition includes <NUM> wt% tungsten carbide, <NUM> wt% tungsten metal, and <NUM> wt% chromium. The abrasive component, the carrier ring, and a bonding metal slug are placed in a furnace to melt the bonding metal. The copper based bonding metal infiltrates the abrasive component forming a densified abrasive component bonded to the carrier ring section. Sample <NUM> is shown in <FIG>.

Destructive bend strengths are determined for Sample <NUM> and Sample <NUM> by measuring a torque required to remove the abrasive component from the carrier ring section. The destructive bend test is carried out using the test procedure defined in section <NUM>. <NUM> of the European standard EN <NUM>:<NUM>, Safety requirements for superabrasives. The destructive bend strength of Sample <NUM> is <NUM> N/mm<NUM>. The destructive bend strength of Sample <NUM> is greater than <NUM> N/mm<NUM>.

Additionally, elemental mapping is performed on Sample <NUM>. Cross-sections of the bonding region and the infiltrated abrasive component are polished and subjected to elemental mapping by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The amount of Fe, Cu, and W is mapped in each region. <FIG> shows the elemental mapping of the bonding region. Abrasive component <NUM> is bonded to carrier <NUM> by a Cu bonding layer <NUM>. <FIG> shows the elemental mapping of the abrasive component. The elemental mapping demonstrates that the composition of the infiltrant within the abrasive component is primarily Cu with about <NUM> wt% Fe.

For example, Sample <NUM> is a cutting-off blade prepared by direct sintering an abrasive component to a steel carrier element. The abrasive component includes <NUM> wt% diamond abrasive particles, <NUM> wt% copper, <NUM> wt% Sn, <NUM> wt% nickel, and <NUM> wt% iron. The diamond abrasive particles are SDB45+ having a particle size in the range of <NUM> mesh and <NUM> mesh.

Sample <NUM> is a cutting-off blade prepared by laser welding an abrasive component to a steel carrier element. The abrasive component includes <NUM> wt% diamond abrasive particles, <NUM> wt% copper, <NUM> wt% iron, <NUM> wt% tin, <NUM> wt% brass, <NUM> wt% of a diamond free backing. The diamond abrasive particles are SDB45+ having a particle size in the range of <NUM> mesh and <NUM> mesh. The diamond free backing includes <NUM> wt% bronze, <NUM> wt% nickel, and <NUM> wt% iron.

Sample <NUM> is a cutting-off blade prepared by infiltration bonding an abrasive component to a steel carrier element. The abrasive component is formed by cold pressing of a mixture of <NUM>,<NUM> wt% diamond abrasive particles and <NUM> wt% metal composition. The diamond abrasive particles are SDB45+ having a particle size in the range of <NUM> mesh and <NUM> mesh. The metal composition includes <NUM> wt% iron, <NUM> wt % nickel, and <NUM> wt% bronze. The abrasive component, the carrier ring, and a bonding metal slug are placed in a furnace to melt the bonding metal. The copper based bonding metal infiltrates the abrasive component forming a densified abrasive component bonded to the carrier disc. Sample <NUM> is shown in <FIG>.

Destructive bend strength is determined by measuring the torque required to remove the abrasive component from the steel carrier element. The test is repeated a number of times for each of Sample <NUM>-<NUM>, as shown in Table <NUM>. The destructive bend strength test is carried out using the test principles defined in section <NUM>. <NUM> of the European standard EN13236:<NUM>, Safety requirements for superabrasives.

Sample <NUM> is a core bit prepared by brazing a sintered abrasive component to a carrier ring. The abrasive component includes <NUM> wt% diamond abrasive particles, <NUM> wt% iron, <NUM> wt% silver, <NUM> wt% copper, <NUM> wt% cobalt, and a diamond free iron based backing. The diamond abrasive particles are is ISD <NUM> having a particle size between about <NUM> mesh and <NUM> mesh. Sample <NUM> is shown in <FIG>.

Sample <NUM> is a core bit prepared by laser welding a sintered abrasive component to a carrier ring. The abrasive component includes <NUM> wt% diamond abrasive particles, <NUM> wt% iron, <NUM> wt% silver, <NUM> wt% copper, <NUM> wt% cobalt, and a diamond free iron based backing. The diamond abrasive particles are is ISD <NUM> having a particle size between about <NUM> mesh and <NUM> mesh. Sample <NUM> is shown in <FIG>.

Sample <NUM> is a core bit prepared by infiltration bonding an abrasive component to a carrier ring. The abrasive component is formed by cold pressing of a mixture of <NUM> wt% diamond abrasive particles and <NUM> wt% metal composition. The metal composition includes <NUM> wt% tungsten and <NUM> wt% chromium. The abrasive component, the carrier ring, and a bonding metal slug are placed in a furnace to melt the bonding metal. The bonding metal infiltrates the abrasive component forming a densified abrasive component bonded to the carrier ring. Sample <NUM> is shown in <FIG>.

Destructive bend strength is determined by measuring the torque required to remove the abrasive component from the carrier ring. The test is repeated a number of times for each of Sample <NUM>-<NUM>, as shown in Table <NUM>. The destructive bend strength test is carried out using the test principles defined in section <NUM>. <NUM> of the European standard EN <NUM>:<NUM>, Safety requirements for superabrasives.

Table <NUM> shows a comparison of the destructive bend strength to the attachment width. The attachment width is the thickness of the carrier element. For example, the attachment width for a core bit is the width of the steel tube to which the abrasive component is bonded. Infiltration bonded carrier elements achieve a destructive bend strength similar to or greater than a destructive bend strength previously achievable only through laser welding. A width normalized destructive bend strength of a composition can be determined by forming a tool having an attachment thickness of <NUM> and measuring the destructive bend strength as described previously. The width normalized destructive bend strength for an infiltration bonded composition is greater than about <NUM> N/mm<NUM>.

Claim 1:
An abrasive article comprising:
a carrier element having a tensile strength of at least about <NUM> N/mm<NUM>;
an abrasive component, the abrasive component includes abrasive particles, a metal matrix comprising a network of interconnected pores substantially filled with an infiltrant having an infiltrant composition containing at least one metal element; and
a bonding region between the abrasive component and the carrier element, the bonding region comprising a bonding metal having a bonding metal composition containing at least one metal element,
wherein the bonding region is an identifiable layer having a distinct phase from both the underlying carrier and the the abrasive component,
wherein an amount of bonding metal that infiltrates the abrasive component is <NUM> wt% to <NUM> wt% of the densified abrasive component.