MINING 365

The board objective of an impregnated diamond bit is to produce a bit where the matrix, under given conditions, erodes at a rate, so that, as active diamond become blunt, they will be released and fresh, sharp diamond will be exposed to come into contact with the rock being drilled. The matrix is a critical factor in impregnated bit manufacture, as it must have the capacity to retain the synthetic diamonds for as long as they continue to cut but to then wear at a rate will allow non-performing diamond to "strip" out and allow new sharp diamond to be exposed.