From Los Alamos to the rock face (May 06, 2008)

A new diamond technology developed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico has promising applications in drilling and cutting tools for the mining industry.

Orem, Ut., based U.S. Synthetic, an operating company of Dover Corporation (DOV-N), has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Los Alamos National Laboratory of Los Alamos, N.M., for a polycrystalline diamond technology developed at the laboratory. The company is planning to apply the new technology in drilling and cutting tools for the mining industry through its newly acquired subsidiary Brady’s Mining and Construction Supply of St. Louis, Mo.

U.S. Synthetic is a provider of polycrystalline diamond cutters. The new technology involves nanostructured thermally stable diamond silicon carbide, and it can be used to make products that are thermally stable, tough, and extremely wear resistant under high temperatures. The products will be ultra-strong, with toughness similar to tungsten carbide.

The early stages of development are showing positive results in thermal stability and wear resistance. The nanostructured diamond silicon carbide is formed by utilizing a novel composite structure that consists of diamond particles embedded in a matrix of nanocrystalline silicon carbide. The nanostructured matrix halts the growth of cracks that lead to fracture, greatly strengthening the resulting material.