Superabrasive Powders
Advanced Abrasives Corporation is a premier superabrasive micronizer, offering the highest quality diamond and cubic boron nitride (cBN) superabrasive powders in the industry. We have sizes ranging from 25 nanometers up to and including the mesh region. These same high-quality powders are the backbone of our superior line of superabrasive slurries, suspensions, and compounds.
Superabrasive Powder Applications
Superabrasive powders are the most aggressive potent abrasives available, unlocking a range of possibilities. Utilizing diamond or cBN powder for grinding and lapping applications can dramatically increase production efficiency. Diamond is best suited for machining hard materials, while cBN is ideal for ferrous items like hardened steels. Standing beyond traditional cutting processes, these superabrasive powders also facilitate the fabrication of diamond tools, optical lenses, and metal plating. They can even provide an alternative to non-traditional abrasives for support in forming nanocomposites that are used across various industries.
Mesh to Micron — Our Quality Control and Customized Processing
Our proprietary “Mesh to Micron” process is monitored with state-of-the-art equipment and continuous quality control checks to ensure that the required physical characteristics of the product are achieved and that there is consistency from lot to lot. Monitoring and measurements include:
- Particle size distribution.
- Shape characterization.
- Surface cleanliness (via electrical conductivity and ion analysis).
- Crystal impurity levels (via elemental analysis).
The data developed during our process is retained for traceability, statistical analysis, and to improve future operations. Each batch processed for every customer is tailored to their unique application or process requirements, making Advanced Abrasives the most thorough superabrasive powder processor available.
Particle Size Measurement
Particle Size Distribution (PSD) is one of the most critical characteristics of our superabrasive products. The PSD affects the material removal rate, surface finish, and particle packing density. Advanced Abrasives incorporates many different techniques and instruments to measure and track distribution characteristics to ensure product consistency.
Shape Characterization
We incorporate a qualitative technique using a light optical microscope with image analysis software on every batch we micronize. When detailed high-magnification imaging is required, state-of-the-art SEM or TEM units are employed.
Conductivity
Electrical conductivity is used to measure crystal surface purity due to dissolved solids. To ensure the highest possible bond retention during sintering, the surface of the diamond must be immaculate. Advanced Abrasives uses a proprietary technique to produce an ultra-clean surface regardless of size or shape.
Elemental Analysis
Elemental impurities reside in all synthetic and natural diamonds. Advanced Abrasives uses Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) and DC Arc analysis to measure and so control these impurities, allowing us to offer consistent, low-impurity diamond products for the most demanding of our customer’s applications*. The ICP analysis reveals the level of surface cleanliness by incorporating an acid leaching technique which collects and then determines the elemental residuals on the crystal surfaces. DC Arc analysis converts the diamond crystals to ash and liberates the previously trapped unconverted elemental catalysts for measurement in the arc.
Ion Analysis
Ion Chromatography is a process that allows the separation of ions and polar molecules based on the charge properties of the molecules. High ions on the crystal surface can negatively affect bond retention/compatibility, dispersion, and surface finish. Advanced Abrasives uses proprietary cleaning techniques along with high-purity water to eliminate high ion concentrations.
*If lower detection limits are needed, Neutron Activation Analysis can detect elements in the ppb range.