Intermetallic-Bonded Diamond Materials
Project Leader: Dale Wittmer and Peter Filip
Unit: College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering and Energy Processes and the Center for Advanced Friction Studies
Brief Description:
A novel composite material consisting of a mixture of nickel, aluminum, metal carbide, and industrial diamond powders. Tests have found it to be up to 800 times more wear-resistant than carbide now used commercially in making mining tools, drill bits, ceramic tile routers, and related items. The diamonds are effectively retained in the composite throughout various industrial applications and without a change in crystalline structure. The material can be readily produced and manipulated using well-established industry methods. A substantial amount of research has been done to confirm the effectiveness of this potentially revolutionary material. | see more info (PDF)
Patent Status:
Patent pending. U.S. patent application no. 20060280638.
Potential Commercial Uses:
This material has numerous applications in the mining, mineral, and drilling industries. Coal mining and handling, hard rock mining and crushing, gas and oil drilling, trenching, excavating, resurfacing, etc., may benefit. Other applications include industrial tools and other fields of use where cutting performance and high wear resistance are important.
Contact:
Jeff Myers, Senior Technology Transfer Specialist, (618) 453-4543, fax: (618) 453-8038