Stratapax-steel stud bond strengths were evaluated in a quality control test fixture at loads up to 410 MPa. No failures occurred for cutter elements bonded in the first six diffusion bond runs. In the next two bond runs, Stratapax-steel stud cutter elements failed at test loads significantly less than 410 MPa. A failure analysis was performed on several of the failed cutter elements to isolate the material weakness responsible for the low load failures. Three groups of failures were identified: a cobalt depletion region on and immediately beneath the cemented carbide surface of the as-received Stratapax blanks, surface contamination at the carbide-steel bond joint and a weakness within the seel stud near the bond joint. Two additional defects were observed which were of some concern, namely, lamination line defects within the carbide portion of Stratapax blanks and severe grind damage on carbide surfaces of as-received Stratapax blanks. It was recommended that a grind schedule be included as part of the specimen preparation prior to bonding to alleviate the observed failures.