Process for making a diamond tool

Abstract

Disclosed is a process for making a diamond tool for processing ceramic starting from a mixture of aluminum-based powders in order to obtain a grinding wheel for an eco-friendly squaring of ceramic.

1 . A process for making a tool for processing ceramic, comprising:
 a step of pressing a mixture of powders and super abrasives inside a mold so as to obtain a semi-finished product;   after the pressing step, a step of pressing-sintering the semi-finished product inside the mold; and   after the pressing-sintering step, a step of finishing the semi-finished product by performing a thickening of the semi-finished product so as to obtain a finished product;   wherein the mixture of powders includes (percentages by weight):
 at least 70% of aluminum, 
 from 0.5% to 2.5% of a lubricant, and 
 at least one powder component chosen among the following substances: copper, magnesium, silicon and zinc or mixtures thereof. 
   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of powders includes 0.1% to 5% by weight of magnesium. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of powders includes 0.1% to 20% of silicon. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of powders includes 0.1% to 10% of zinc. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of pressing-sintering is performed by heating the semi-finished product at a temperature between 530° C. and 650° C. for a time between 15 min. and 60 min. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of pressing-sintering is performed in pure nitrogen atmosphere. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein after the pressing step, the semi-finished product is delubricated in the mold by heating the semi-finished product at a temperature between 380° C. and 420° C. for a time between 15 min. and 25 min. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the finished product is subjected to at least one heat treatment. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one heat treatment performed is at least one of the following treatments:
 sintering and cooling at ambient temperature;   heating in air, and subsequent rapid cooling in water and natural or artificial aging;   hardening, cooling in water and artificial aging.   
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressing-sintering of the semi-finished product is performed directly on an aluminum support previously made. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein the mixture of powders includes 0.1% to 20% of silicon. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein the mixture of powders includes 0.1% to 10% of zinc. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 3 , wherein the mixture of powders includes 0.1% to 10% of zinc. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of pressing-sintering is performed on a body of a grinding wheel. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of powders includes 0.1% to 10% copper. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the mold is a steel mold. 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein in the mixture of powders, the aluminum is formed by air-atomized aluminum powder, irregularly shaped. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of powders includes 0.1% to 4% by weight of magnesium. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 18 , wherein the mixture of powders includes 0.1% to 17% of silicon. 
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 19 , wherein the mixture of powders includes 0.1% to 8% of zinc.