Process for the preparation of pre-alloyed powders for diamond tools, and the powders so obtained

A process for the synthesis of pre-alloyed powders for the manufacture of diamond tools, comprising the steps of:

• preparing a precursor mixture of metal-bearing compounds in solid form containing Fe, Cu, P, one or both of Mo and W, and optionally one or more of Ni, Co, and Sn, wherein relative metallic concentrations are selected so as to obtain a pre-alloyed powder according to the formula FeaCubNicCodSnePfMogWh, with, in weight %, a>50, 5<b<25, c<20, d<5, e<5, 0.5<f<5, 0.5<g+h<5, and a+b+c+d+e+f+g+h>95%;
• hydrogen reduction of the precursor mixture to obtain a reduced precursor mixture;
• comminuting the reduced precursor mixture, thereby obtaining a pre-alloyed powder;
• wherein at least a major part of the phosphorus is introduced by adding an aqueous solution of a phosphorus salt to one or more of the metal-bearing compounds or to their mixture.