Polycrystalline diamond compacts

PDC bits get their name from the polycrystalline diamond compacts used for their cutting structure. The technology that led to the production of STRATAPAX drill blanks grew from the General Electric Co. work with polycrystalline manufactured diamond materials for abrasives and metal working tools. General Electric Co. researched and developed the STRATAPAX (trade... 

Figure 4-150 shows the major components and design of the PDC bit. The polycrystalline diamond compacts, shown in Figure 4-151. The polycrystalline diamond compacts (of which General Electric s) consist of a thin layer of synthetic diamonds on a tungsten carbide disk. These compacts are produced as an integral blank by a high-pressure, high-temperature process. The diamond layer consists of many tiny crystals grown together at random orientations for maximum strength and wear resistance.

Figure 4-151. Polycrystalline diamond compacts [43A]. (Courtesy Hughes Christensen.)...

The term PDC is defined as polycrystalline diamond compact. The term TSP is defined as thermally stable polycrystalline diamond. TSP materials are composed of manufactured polycrystalline diamond which has the thermal stability of natural diamond. This is accomplished through the removal of trace impurities and in some cases the filling of lattice structure pore spaces with a material of compatible thermal expansion coefficient. 

The positive displacement motor whose performance characteristics are given in Table 4-115 is a 5 6 lobe profile motor. This lobe profile design is usually used for straight hole drilling with roller rock bits, or for deviation control operations where high torque polycrystalline diamond compact bit or diamond bits are used for deviation control operations. 

Diamond, as single crystal or as a polycrystalline compact (PCD) is an excellent cutting material but is expensive and requires closely controlled speed and absence of chatter and vibration for optimum performance.PI It has limited oxidation resistance as it begins to oxidize in dry-grinding operations between 500 and 700°C, and the use of coolant is recommended to remain below these tern-... 

Some meteorites contain diamond such as the one found in Canyon Diablo in Arizona. The diamond is in the form of polycrystalline compacts made up of submicron crystals. These crystals are mostly cubic although the hexagonal form is also found. 

---