Cryogenic Treatment Processes for Diamond Abrasive Tools

• US 20090170414A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Coldfire Technology LLC
• Inventors: Ferrell, Robert C., Benoit, Larry L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,235,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 451/540
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 1/785 Thermocycling
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 6/04 Hardening by cooling below 0 degrees Celsius
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 9/22 for drills; for milling cutters; for machine cutting tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 407/26 comprising cutting edge bonded to tool shank

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention can provide cryogenic treatment processes for diamond abrasive tools. One process in accordance with an embodiment of this invention can include introducing an abrasive tool into a cycling chamber, wherein the tool has a temperature of about ambient temperature; and introducing at least one cryogenic material into the chamber, wherein the internal temperature of the chamber or tool can be controlled by adjusting the flow rate of the at least one cryogenic material. The process can result in a strengthened and toughened abrasive tool. The process can be repeated multiple times.

Claims

1. A process to treat an abrasive tool using a cycling chamber, the process comprising:

(a) introducing an abrasive tool into a cycling chamber, wherein the tool has a temperature of about ambient temperature;

(b) introducing at least one cryogenic material into the cycling chamber, wherein the internal temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool can be controlled by adjusting the flow rate of the at least one cryogenic material;

(c) decreasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to a range from about −

80 degrees Fahrenheit (F) to about −

100 degrees F. at a rate of about −

0.5 degrees F. per minute to about −

10 degrees F. per minute;

(d) further decreasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to a range from about −

275 degrees F. to about −

325 degrees F. at a rate of about −

0.05 degrees F. per minute to about −

0.25 degrees F. per minute;

(e) increasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to a range from about −

80 degrees F. to about −

100 degrees F. at a rate of about 0.05 degrees F. per minute to about 0.25 degrees F. per minute; and

(f) further increasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to about ambient temperature at a rate of about 0.5 degrees F. to about 10 degrees F., and resulting in a strengthened and toughened abrasive tool.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising (d1) maintaining the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool in a range from about −

275 degrees F. to about −

325 degrees F. for about 0.1 hours to about 24 hours.

3. The process of claim 1, further comprising (d1) maintaining the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool in a range from about −

275 degrees F. to about −

325 degrees F. for about 17 hours.

4. The process of claim 2, wherein elements (c), (d), (d1), (e), and (f) are repeated at least once.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein introducing an abrasive tool into a cycling chamber, comprises introducing an abrasive tool comprising at least one diamond-based material.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein further decreasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to a range from about −

275 degrees F. to about −

325 degrees F. comprises a rate of about −

0.10 degrees F. per minute to about −

0.20 degrees F. per minute.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein increasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to a range from about −

80 degrees F. to about −

100 degrees F. comprises a rate of about 0.10 degrees per minute to about 0.20 degrees F. per minute.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein elements (c) through (f) are repeated.

9. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

(b1) decreasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool from ambient temperature to about −

10 degrees Fahrenheit (F) at a rate of about −

1.0 degrees F. per minute;

(c1) further decreasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to about −

190 degrees F. at a rate of about −

0.2 degrees F. per minute;

(d1) maintaining the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool at about −

280 degrees F. for about 17 hours;

(d2) increasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to about −

190 degrees F. at a rate of about 0.1 degrees F. per minute; and

(e1) further increasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to about −

10 degrees F. at a rate of about 0.5 degrees F. per minute.

10. An abrasive tool comprising:

at least one diamond-based material, wherein the abrasive tool is formed by a process comprising;

(a) introducing the abrasive tool into a cycling chamber, wherein the tool has a temperature of about ambient temperature;

(b) introducing at least one cryogenic material into the cycling chamber, wherein the internal temperature of the chamber or abrasive tool can be controlled by adjusting the flow rate of the at least one cryogenic material;

(c) decreasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool from ambient temperature to a range from about −

80 degrees Fahrenheit (F) to about −

100 degrees F. at a rate of about −

0.5 degrees F. per minute to about −

10 degrees F. per minute;

(d) further decreasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to a range from about −

275 degrees F. to about −

325 degrees F. at a rate of about −

0.05 degrees F. per minute to about −

0.25 degrees F. per minute;

(e) increasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to a range from about −

80 degrees F. to about −

100 degrees F. at a rate of about 0.05 degrees F. per minute to about 0.25 degrees F. per minute; and

(f) further increasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to about ambient temperature at a rate of about 0.5 degrees F. per minute to about 10 degrees F. per minute.

11. The abrasive tool of claim 10, wherein the process further comprises (d1) maintaining the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool in a range from about −

275 degrees F. to about −

325 degrees F. for about 0.1 hours to about 24 hours.

12. The abrasive tool of claim 10, wherein the process further comprises (d1) maintaining the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool in a range from about −

275 degrees F. to about −

325 degrees F. for about 17 hours.

13. The abrasive tool of claim 11, wherein elements (c), (d), (d1), (e), and (f) are repeated at least once.

14. The abrasive tool of claim 10, wherein introducing an abrasive tool into a cycling chamber, comprises introducing an abrasive tool comprising at least one diamond-based material.

15. The abrasive tool of claim 10, wherein further decreasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to a range from about −

275 degrees F. to about −

325 degrees F. comprises a rate of about −

0.10 degrees F. per minute to about −

0.20 degrees F. per minute.

16. The abrasive tool of claim 10, wherein increasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to a range from about −

80 degrees F. to about −

100 degrees F. comprises a rate of about 0.10 degrees F. per minute to about 0.20 degrees F. per minute.

17. The abrasive tool of claim 10, wherein elements (c) through (f) are repeated.

18. The process of claim 10, further comprising:

(b1) decreasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool from ambient temperature to about −

10 degrees Fahrenheit (F) at a rate of about −

1.0 degrees F. per minute;

(c1) further decreasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to about −

190 degrees F. at a rate of about −

0.2 degrees F. per minute;

(d1) maintaining the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool at about −

280 degrees F. for about 17 hours;

(d2) increasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to about −

190 degrees F. at a rate of about 0.1 degrees F. per minute; and

(e1) further increasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to about −

10 degrees F. at a rate of about 0.5 degrees F. per minute.

19. A process to treat an abrasive tool using at least one cryogenic material in a cycling chamber, the process comprising:

decreasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool from ambient temperature to a range from about −

80 degrees Fahrenheit (F) to about −

100 degrees F. at a rate of about −

0.5 degrees F. per minute to about −

10 degrees F. per minute;

further decreasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to a range from about −

275 degrees F. to about −

325 degrees F. at a rate of about −

0.05 degrees F. per minute to about −

0.25 degrees F. per minute;

increasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to a range from about −

80 degrees F. to about −

100 degrees F. at a rate of about 0.05 degrees F. per minute to about 0.25 degrees F. per minute; and

further increasing the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool to about ambient temperature at a rate of about 0.5 degrees F. per minute to about 10 degrees F. per minute, and resulting in a strengthened and toughened abrasive tool.

20. The process of claim 19, further comprising maintaining the temperature of the cycling chamber or abrasive tool in a range from at about −

275 degrees F. to about −

325 degrees F. for about 0.1 hours to about 24 hours.