An Experimental Study on Brazing of Diamonds onto Thin Steel Wires
An experimental investigation was carried out to braze diamond abrasives onto thin steel wires, in which case the brazing was conducted in the vacuum and under high temperatures by using a nickel-based powder as brazing alloy. The morphologies and microstructures of the brazed wires were observed and the comprehensive mechanical properties of the brazed wires were tested. The brazed wires were also used to cut such brittle materials as ceramics, glass, and natural stone. It is shown that a typical phenomenon of brazing alloy’s climbing around the diamond grains was observed in brazing the wires. Through observing the cross-section of brazed wires, it is observed that there is a good bonding between the brazing alloy and the body of steel wires. The crystal grains of the steel wires grew significantly after brazing. Through observing the morphologies of the diamond wires and the surfaces of four workpiece materials, few diamond pull-outs were found on the wires and the kerfs on the workpiece materials were basically flat.