Diamond sintered body for tools and method of manufacturing same

Claim 2

A diamond sintered body for tools, having a diamond content in excess of 95 percent and not more than 99 percent by volume, and a residue including at least one of a metal or a carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table, and an iron group metal of 0.1 to 3 percent by volume in total, and pores at least 0.5 percent and not more than 5 percent by volume.

Claim 3

A diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 1, wherein said diamond contained in said diamond sintered body contains coarse diamond larger than 3 μm in particle size and fine diamond smaller than 1 μm in particle size in a volume ratio of 60:38 to 90:6.

Claim 4

A diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 2, wherein the particle size of said coarse diamond is at least 5 μm and not more than 200 μm.

Claim 5

A diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 1, wherein said carbide selected from said groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table is tungsten carbide (WC) or molybdenum tungsten carbide ((MoW)C) which is identical in crystal structure with tungsten carbide.

Claim 6

A diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 1, further containing at least one of boron and a boride of 0.005 to 0.25 percent by volume in total.

Claim 7

A compound diamond sintered body comprising a diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 1 and a cemented carbide base material bonded to said diamond sintered body for tools.

Claim 8

A compound diamond sintered body in accordance with claim 6, wherein said diamond sintered body for tools and said cemented carbide base material are bonded to each other through an intermediate bonding layer.

Claim 9

A compound diamond sintered body comprising a diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 5 and a cemented carbide base material bonded to said diamond sintered body for tools.

Claim 10

A compound diamond sintered body in accordance with claim 8, wherein said diamond sintered body for tools and said cemented carbide base material are bonded to each other through an intermediate bonding layer.

Claim 11

A method of manufacturing a diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 1, said method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing diamond power or mixed powder of diamond power and a metal or a carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table and an iron group metal; (b) graphitizing a part of the diamond powder in the mixed powder at a temperature over 1300° C.; (c) bringing the diamond powder in contact with an iron group metal or a sintered carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table to form a sintered body by performing a hot press operation utilizing a superhigh pressure/temperature apparatus under a high temperature and a high pressure for retaining the diamond stable; and (d) subjecting the sintered body to acid treatment to leach parts of the iron group metal and the metal or carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table.

Claim 12

A method of manufacturing a diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 10, wherein the carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table is tungsten carbide or (molybdenum tungsten) carbide identical in crystal structure with tungsten carbide.

Claim 13

A method of manufacturing a compound diamond sintered body in accordance with claim 6, said method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing diamond powder or mixed powder of diamond powder and a metal or a carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table and an iron group metal; (b) graphitizing a part of the diamond powder in the mixed powder at a temperature over 1300° C; (c) bringing the mixed powder in contact with a cemented carbide base material; (d) bringing the mixed powder in contact with an iron group metal or a sintered carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table to form a compound sintered body by employing a superhigh pressure/temperature apparatus under a high temperature and a high pressure for retaining the diamond stable; and (e) treating the compound sintered body in an oxidation liquid to leach parts of the iron group metal and the metal or carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table.

Claim 14

A method of manufacturing a compound diamond sintered body in accordance with claim 12, wherein the diamond mixed powder is brought into contact with the cemented carbide base material through an intermediate bonding layer.

Claim 15

A method of manufacturing a compound diamond sintered body in accordance with claim 12, wherein an oxide film layer is formed on the surface of the cemented carbide base material in said step (e) to prevent leaching of the iron group metal in the cemented carbide base material by the oxidation liquid.

Claim 16

A method of manufacturing a diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 1, said method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing mixed powder of diamond powder and an iron group metal, or of diamond powder, a metal or a carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table and the iron group metal; (b) graphitizing a part of the diamond powder in the mixed powder at a temperature over 1300° C.; (c) forming a sintered body by performing a hot press operation utilizing a superhigh pressure/temperature apparatus under a high temperature and a high pressure for retaining the diamond stable; and (d) subjecting the sintered body to acid treatment to leach a part of the iron group metal or the metal or carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table.

Claim 17

A method of manufacturing a diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 15, wherein the carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table is tungsten carbide or molybdenum tungsten carbide identical in crystal structure with tungsten carbide.

Claim 18

A method of manufacturing a compound diamond sintered body in accordance with claim 6, said method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing mixed powder of diamond powder and an iron group metal, or of diamond powder, a metal or a carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table and the iron group metal; (b) graphitizing part of the diamond powder in the mixed powder at a temperature over 1300° C.; (c) bringing the diamond into contact with a cemented carbide base material and forming a sintered body by performing a hot press operation utilizing a superhigh pressure/temperature apparatus under a high temperature and a high pressure for retaining the diamond stable; and (d) treating the sintered body in an oxidation liquid to leach a part of the iron group metal or the metal or carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table.

Claim 19

A method of manufacturing a compound diamond sintered body in accordance with claim 17, wherein the diamond is brought into contact with the cemented carbide base material through an intermediate bonding layer.

Claim 20

A method of manufacturing a compound diamond sintered body in accordance with claim 17, wherein said step (d) includes forming an oxide film layer on the surface of the cemented carbide base material.

Claim 21

A method of manufacturing a diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 6, said method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing mixed powder of a diamond powder and boron or a boride, or of diamond powder and a metal or a carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table, an iron group metal and the boron or the boride; (b) graphitizing a part of the diamond powder in the mixed powder at a temperature over 1300° C.; (c) forming a sintered body by bringing the powder in contact with an iron group metal or a sintered carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table and performing a hot press operation utilizing a superhigh pressure/temperature apparatus under a high temperature and a high pressure for retaining the diamond stable; and (d) subjecting the sintered body to acid treatment to leach parts of the iron group metal, the metal or carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table, and the at least one of the boron and the boride.

Claim 22

A method of manufacturing a diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 20, wherein the carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table is tungsten carbide or molybdenum tungsten carbide identical in crystal structure with tungsten carbide.

Claim 23

A method of manufacturing a compound diamond sintered body in accordance with claim 8, said method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing mixed power of diamond powder and boron or a boride, or of diamond powder and a metal or a carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table, an iron group metal or a boride; (b) graphitizing a part of the diamond powder in the mixed powder at a temperature over 1300° C.; (c) bringing the diamond in contact with a cemented carbide base material, placing an iron group metal or a sintered carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table on the diamond to be in contact therewith, and performing a hot press operation utilizing a superhigh pressure/temperature apparatus under a high temperature and a high pressure for retaining the diamond stable to form a sintered body; and (d) treating the sintered body in an oxidation liquid to leach parts of the iron group metal and the metal or carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table.

Claim 24

A method of manufacturing a compound diamond sintered body in accordance with claim 22, wherein the diamond is brought into contact with the cemented carbide base material through an intermediate bonding layer.

Claim 25

A method of manufacturing a compound diamond sintered body in accordance with claim 22, wherein said step (d) includes forming an oxide film layer on the surface of the cemented carbide base material.

Claim 26

A method of manufacturing a diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 6, said method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing mixed powder of diamond powder, an iron group metal and at least one of boron and a boride, or of diamond powder, a metal or a carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table, an iron group metal and at least one of the boron and the boride; (b) graphitizing a part of the diamond powder in the mixed powder at a temperature over 1300° C.; (c) forming a sintered body by performing a hot press operation utilizing a superhigh pressure/temperature apparatus under a high temperature and a high pressure for retaining the diamond stable; and (d) subjecting the sintered body to acid treatment to leach parts of the iron group metal, the metal or carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table and the at least one of the boron and the boride.

Claim 27

A method of manufacturing a diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 25, wherein the carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table is tungsten carbide or molybdenum tungsten carbide identical in crystal structure with tungsten carbide.

Claim 28

A method of manufacturing a compound diamond sintered body in accordance with claim 8, said method comprising the steps of: (a) preparaing mixed powder of diamond powder, an iron groups metal and at least one of boron and a boride, or of diamond powder, a metal or a carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table, an iron group metal and at least one of the boron and the boride; (b) graphitizing a part of the diamond powder in the mixed powder at a temperature over 1300° C.; (c) forming a sintered body by performing a hot press operation utilizing a superhigh pressure/temperatue apparatus under a high temperature and a high pressure for retaining the diamond stable by bringing the mixed powder in contact with cemented carbide; and (d) treating the sintered body in an oxidation liquid to leach parts of the iron group metal and the metal or carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table.

Claim 29

A method of manufacturing a compound diamond sinter body in accordance with claim 27, wherein the diamond is brought into contact with the cemented carbide base material through an intermediate bonding layer.

Claim 30

A method of manufacturing a compound diamond sintered body in accordance with claim 27, wherein said step (d) includes forming an oxide film layer on the surface of the cemented carbide base material to prevent leaching of the iron group metal in the cemented carbide base material by the oxidation liquid.

Claim 31

A method of manufacturing a diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 2, said method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing mixed powder of diamond powder larger than 3 μm in particle size, superfine diamond powder smaller than 1 μm in particle size, a carbide smaller than 1 μm selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table and an iron group metal; (b) graphitizing a part of the powder material at a temperature over 1300° C.; (c) performing a hot press operation utilizing a superhigh pressure/temperature apparatus under a high temperature and a high pressure for retaining the diamond stable; and (d) subjecting the sintered body to acid treatment to leach a part of the iron group metal.

Claim 32

A method of manufacturing a diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 5, said method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing mixed power of diamond powder larger than 3 μm in particle size, superfine diamond powder smaller than 1 μm in particle size, a carbide smaller than 1 μm selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table and an iron group metal; (b) graphitizing a part of the powder material at a temperature over 1300° C.; (c) performing a hot press operation utilizing a superhigh pressure/temperature apparatus under a high temperature and a high pressure for retaining the diamond stable; and (d) subjecting the sintered body to acid treatment to leach a part of the iron group metal.

Claim 33

A diamond sintered body for tools, comprising: self-bonded diamond particles comprising between about 95% and 99% by volume of said diamond sintered body; and a residue including: at least one of a metal or a carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table, and an iron group metal between about 0.1 to 3% by volume of said diamond sintered body; and pores comprising between about 0.5 and 5% by volume of said diamond sintered body.

Claim 34

A diamond sintered body for tools, comprising: self-bonded diamond particles comprising between about 95% and 99% by volume of said diamond sintered body; and a residue including: at least one of a metal or a carbide selected from groups IVa, Va and VIa of the periodic table, and an iron group metal between about 0.1 to 3% by volume of said diamond sintered body; and pores comprising between about 0.5 and 5% by volume of said diamond sintered body.

Claim 35

A diamond sintered body for tools in accordance with claim 32, further comprising at least one of boron and a boride comprising between about 0.005 and 0.25% by volume of said diamond sintered body.