Diamond Tools

Diamond tools are cutting tools containing diamonds embedded in a bonding material.

The use of diamond tools can be divided into three major categories:

• Processing of natural stone, starting with the block extraction in the quarries and ending with polishing operations for the finished product and all production steps in between
• Construction industry where diamond tools are used for drilling and cutting concrete, asphalt, and other construction materials.
• Industrial usage where metal bonded diamond tools are used for cutting and grinding glass, ceramics, and other hard abrasive materials

Umicore provides metal bond powders comprising various types of Cobalt Powders, pre-alloyed powders (the Cobalite®, NEXT®, Keen®, and STEP® ranges), and additives powders (tungsten, tungsten carbide, fused tungsten carbide, copper, tin, bronze, and iron).

These powders are mixed together with synthetic diamonds to form diamond segments usually by hot pressing or free sintering techniques. The bond material is selected depending on the material that needs to be cut.