Transition Zone in Thermally Activated Solid-Phase Contact of Diamond with Iron and Titanium

The intermediate layer formed when diamond is in contact with metals that are active with respect to carbon—such as iron and titanium—is investigated in a vacuum furnace. The conditions in the furnace match those employed in sintering with copper impregnation of the hard-alloy matrix of diamond tools. The results may be used in developing compositions and technologies such that tool materials based on tungsten–cobalt hard-alloy powder have a high diamond content in the matrix.