Investigation and improvement of wear nonuniformity of diamond tools in sawing granite

Abstract Sawing experiments were accomplished to discuss the wear characteristics at different parts of diamond tools in the process of sawing granite in this paper. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and 3D laser microscope were main detection means for the morphology of diamond tools. Synthetic investigation on the abrasion performance of segments was developed from aspects of the wear appearance of diamond particle and metal bond, the particle protrusion height and the residual height of segments. The results indicated that smaller residual height and larger proportion of macro-fractured and pull out crystal were exhibited at the front end of traditional diamond segment compared with the rear end. Morphology characteristics of diamond tools demonstrated different abrasion mechanism, flush erosion and cavitation was the main wear mechanism for the front end, while abrasive wear was the main wear mechanism for the rear end. Maximum undeformed chip thickness per diamond particle for the front end was larger than that of the rear end due to the existence of slot, the same was true for the load of single diamond particle. By reasonably matching of diamond particles and matrix bond, the abnormal failure efficiency of the diamond particles at the front of the segment was effectively reduced and the wear uniformity of the saw tooth surface was greatly improved. Suggestions on the design of diamond tools and test verification were put forward in the end.