Characterisation of single-crystal diamond grit for construction applications

Abstract

The last ten years have seen a step-change in the ability to position diamond particles in metalmatrix
segments for drilling and sawing applications. Advances in segment assembly technology
allow diamonds to be positioned at specific locations within the segment. Performance of the
segment can be optimized when the diamond particles are themselves selected to best exploit
arranged-diamond segment design and other cutting conditions (such as tool drive parameters).
Diamond ‘grit’ products for stone and construction applications each comprise particles of various
sizes, shapes, strengths and purities. Consequently, effective selection of diamond types is
dependent upon measurement using appropriate laboratory ‘characterisation’ techniques. As many
of these techniques yield results on individual particles rather than bulk ‘figures-of-merit’, effective
interpretation of these results is dependent on appropriate statistical analyses.
This paper will introduce the key characteristics of diamond products for construction applications,
provide insights into appropriate laboratory characterisation techniques, and describe how their
results may be best interpreted to facilitate understanding and consequent diamond selection.