Microstructure and properties of diamond etched by titanium powder

Abstract This paper proposed a method of etching the diamond surface using titanium powder to strengthen the bonding of diamond with the matrix. The effect of heating temperature on the etching behavior of titanium powder on the diamond surface was investigated. The results showed that as the temperature rose, the extent of etch of the diamonds increased and the specific surface area reached the maximum at 0.31 m2·g−1 at 1000 °C. Furthermore, diamond graphitization was not observed. The maximum bonding strength of the Ti-etched diamond and the binder reached 59.4 MPa, which increased by 56% compared with untreated diamond.