Effect of ZrB\(_2\) additions on the thermal stability of polycrystalline diamond

This study investigates the effect of ZrB\(_2\) additions on the microstructure, thermal stability, and thermo-mechanical wear behaviour of polycrystalline diamond. Following high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) sintering, the ZrB\(_2\)-PCD material showed a full conversion of the binder phase to c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2023-02
Main Authors: Jivanji, Melisha, bes, Roy Peter, Humphrey Sithebe, Johan Ewald Westraadt
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abrasion resistance
Abrasive wear
Cobalt
Diamond tools
High temperature
Low temperature
Optimization
Polycrystalline diamond
Polycrystals
Refractory materials
Sintering
Thermal stability
Tool wear
Vacuum annealing
Wear resistance
Zirconium compounds
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Summary:This study investigates the effect of ZrB\(_2\) additions on the microstructure, thermal stability, and thermo-mechanical wear behaviour of polycrystalline diamond. Following high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) sintering, the ZrB\(_2\)-PCD material showed a full conversion of the binder phase to cobalt-boride (Co2B and Co\(_{23}\)B\(_6\)) phases. In-situ PXRD and TEM vacuum annealing experiments observed that the onset of bulk graphitisation occurred above \(1000^{\circ}C\) for the ZrB\(_2\)-PCD material, compared to \(850^{\circ}C\) for the STD-PCD material. The ZrB\(_2\)-PCD tools showed excellent thermo-mechanical wear behaviour, exhibiting increased durability and a steady wear scar progression during high-temperature dry-VTL testing. However, lowered abrasion wear resistance was observed for the ZrB2-PCD tools during low-temperature wet-VTL testing, probably due the reduced diamond contiguity in the ZrB2 additive sample. Further optimisation of the ZrB\(_2\) additive phase content, mixing methodology, or sintering conditions could be explored to improve the abrasive wear resistance of this novel PCD material.
ISSN:2331-8422