Method for the production of diamond compact abrasives

Claim 1

A METHOD OF BONDING TOGETHER DIAMOND PARTICLES BY THE USE OF A METALLIC BONDING MEDIUM TO PROVIDE A TOUGH, COHERENT HIGH STRENGTH DIAMOND COMPACT ABRASIVE WHICH COMPRISES: (A) HEATING A MIXTURE OF DIAMOND CRYSTALS AND BONDING MEDIUM TO AN OPERATING TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF FROM ABOUT 750*C. TO ABOUT 800*C., (1) SAID METALLIC BONDING MEDIUM HAVING A MELTING POINT SUBSTANTIALLY IN EXCESS OF THE OPERATING TEMPERATURE BUT BEING FLOWABLE AT THE OPERATING TEMPERATURE UNDER THE APPLICATION OF PRESSURE IN EXCESS OF ABOUT 10 KILOBARS, (B) APPLYING A PRESSURE OF OVER ABOUT 10 KILOBARS TO SAID MIXTURE AFTER OPERATING TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN REACHED TO URGE SAID DIAMOND CRYSTALS INTO CLOSE CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER AND TO FORCE SAID METALLIC BONDING MEDIUM TO FLOW OVER THE SURFACES OF SAID DIAMOND CRYSTALS AND CONFORM TO THE SHAPE OF THE DIAMOND SURFACES, (C) CEASING THE HEATING WHEN THE OPERATING PRESSURE HAS BEEN REACHED AND ALLOWING SAID MIXTURE TO COOL TO AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, (D) REDUCING THE PRESSURE TO AMBIENT PRESSURE, AND (E) REMOVING THE CONGLOMERATE OF DIAMOND AND METALLIC BONDING MEDIUM, (1) SAID CONGLOMERATE CONTAINING A MAXIMUM OF ABOUT 50 PERCENT DIAMOND BY VOLUME.