Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
An improved process for preparing diamond wire die compacts characterized by diamond-to-diamond bonding which comprises subjecting at least one mass comprised of a metal carbide cylinder having at least one hole extending through its thickness connecting the two ends and containing diamond particles in said holes to the following high pressure-high temperature sintering conditions: pressure of at least 50 kbar at a temperature of at least 1300° C. and within the diamond stable region; and reaction time of 10-90 minutes; in a high pressure reaction cell containing each mass of metal carbide and diamond particles within a sub-assembly comprising a shield metal cup and a shield metal disc covering the open end of the cup; wherein the improvement comprises using a sub-assembly in which has been placed on one end of the mass of metal carbide and diamond a layer comprised of a diamond catalyst/solvent whereby axial diffusion of the catalyst/solvent into the diamond is achieved.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
An improved process for preparing diamond wire die compacts characterized by diamond-to-diamond bonding which comprises subjecting at least one mass comprised of a metal carbide cylinder having at least one hole extending through its thickness connecting the two ends and containing diamond particles in said holes to the following high pressure-high temperature sintering conditions: pressure of at least 50 kbar at a temperature of at least 1300° C. and within the diamond stable region; and reaction time of 10-90 minutes; in a high pressure reaction cell containing each mass of metal carbide and diamond particles within a sub-assembly comprising a shield metal cup and a shield metal disc covering the open end of the cup; wherein the improvement comprises using a sub-assembly in which has been placed on one end of the mass of metal carbide and diamond a layer comprised of a diamond catalyst/solvent whereby axial diffusion of the catalyst/solvent into the diamond is achieved.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The improved process as recited in claim 1 wherein: (a) the metal carbide is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, titanium, and tantalum carbides; and (b) the catalyst/solvent is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, iron, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, platinum, chromium, manganese, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improved process as recited in claim 2 wherein the metal carbide already contains a metal bonding material selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, iron, chromium, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process improvement as recited in claim 3 wherein the size of the diamond particles ranges from 0.1 to 75 microns in largest dimension and the metal carbide is cobalt cemented tungsten carbide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
141 words
An improved process for preparing diamond wire compacts comprising subjecting at least one mass comprised of a metal carbide cylinder having at least one hole extending through its thickness connecting the two ends and containing diamond particles in said hole to a high pressure-high temperature process which results in a compact characterized by diamond-to-diamond bonding which process is performed in a high pressure reaction cell containing each mass of metal carbide and diamond particles within a sub-assembly comprising a shield metal cup and a shield metal disc covering the open end of the cup; wherein the improvement comprises using a sub-assembly in which has been placed on one end of the mass of metal carbide and diamond a composite layer comprised of a diamond catalyst/solvent combined with a refractory metal, whereby axial diffusion of the catalyst/solvent into the diamond is achieved.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
141 words
An improved process for preparing diamond wire compacts comprising subjecting at least one mass comprised of a metal carbide cylinder having at least one hole extending through its thickness connecting the two ends and containing diamond particles in said hole to a high pressure-high temperature process which results in a compact characterized by diamond-to-diamond bonding which process is performed in a high pressure reaction cell containing each mass of metal carbide and diamond particles within a sub-assembly comprising a shield metal cup and a shield metal disc covering the open end of the cup; wherein the improvement comprises using a sub-assembly in which has been placed on one end of the mass of metal carbide and diamond a composite layer comprised of a diamond catalyst/solvent combined with a refractory metal, whereby axial diffusion of the catalyst/solvent into the diamond is achieved.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improved process of claim 5 wherein the metal carbide contains a metal bonding material selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, iron, chromium, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improved process of claim 6 wherein said composite layer comprises a catalyst/solvent layer adjacent to said mass of metal carbide and diamond, and a layer of said refractory metal adjacent to said catalyst/solvent layer on its side opposite of said mass.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The improved process of claim 6 wherein: (a) the metal carbide is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, titanium, and tantalum carbide; (b) the catalyst/solvent is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, iron, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, platinum, chromium, manganese, and mixtures thereof; and (c) the refractory metal is selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten, zirconium, and titanium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improved process of claim 6 wherein a layer of refractory metal is disposed adjacent to the side of said mass of metal carbide and diamond particles opposite from said composite layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The improved process of claim 7 wherein each said sub-assembly contains in the following sequential order: a layer of said refractory metal, said diamond catalyst/solvent, said mass of metal carbide and diamond particles, a second layer of said diamond catalyst/solvent, and a second layer of said refractory metal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improved process of claim 9 wherein said diamond catalyst/solvent is cobalt, said composite layer refractory metal is molybdenum, and said opposite side refractory metal is zirconium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improved process of claim 7 wherein said layer of said catalyst/solvent is a disc thereof and said layer of said refractory metal is a disc thereof.