In article , Harold and Susan Vordos says...

The host material isn't where the diamonds are mounted. There's usually an
alloy that becomes the bonding agent, and it doesn't have an affinity for
carbon. There is no transfer of carbon for that reason.

I've actually had occasion to talk to the Kennametals folks who
make things like cutting tools. They also produce fine (micron
particle size or thereabouts) bronze powder. This is an alloy
of copper and tin which is specifically used as a sintering
binder for that application - bonding diamond particles to
steel tooling.

Jim


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