Study of the Structure and Hardness of Alloys of the Sn – Cu – Co System Used as Diamond Abrasive Tool Binders

Abstract

The effect of the chemical composition of alloys of the Sn – Cu – Co system used as a binder for diamond abrasive tools on their structure and hardness is studied. It is shown that in the range of concentrations of the elements studied alloy structure is represented by three phases, i.e., β-Co, a solid solution of tin and cobalt in copper (Cu), and an ε (Cu₃Sn) intermetallic phase. The lowest microhardness of the three phases is exhibited by β-Co, as a result of which with an increase in cobalt content alloy macrohardness decreases.