Aluminum Oxide

Aluminum oxide is the most common industrial mineral in use today. Fused aluminum oxide is produced synthetically by melting bauxite and additive in an arc furnace to form a fused aluminum oxide ingots, which are later crushed and sized. Fused aluminum oxide is also produced synthetically by chemically purifying The various types of fused aluminum oxides are distinguished by the levels of chemical impurities remaining in the fused mineral. Titanium and chromium oxides are typical additives. Other techniques to make industrial abrasive start with treating bauxite ore with a sol gel process to create alumina that is sintered to produce with an extremely fine crystalline structure typical of the sol gel or Seeded Gel products available by Saint Gobain Abrasives. Fused aluminum oxide is available in several variations depending on composition and processing such as white (high purity), brown or regular (titanium oxide modified) and pink (chromium oxide additions). Titanium oxide additions can toughen the abrasive and enable heat treating process, which changes brown aluminum oxide to a blue colored grain as TiO2 precipitates form. Aluminum oxide abrasives are also produced with chemical precursors and precipitation, calcination and/or sintering processes. Calcined or platelet aluminas as used in fine grit or polishing applications. Sol-gel aluminum oxide is produced in using chemical ceramic technology, but this abrasive has very high performance and is usually referred to as Ceramic abrasive grain to distinguish the grain from lower performing fused aluminum oxide. Aluminum oxide occurs naturally in the form of the mineral corundum, but the mineral is not used as a commercial abrasive except as a component of emery.

   

Silicon Carbide

Silicon carbide is a synthetic abrasive first developed in the late 1800s. SiC is harder than aluminum oxide, but more friable than fused aluminum oxide grains. Silicon carbide is typically applied to nonferrous applications (brass, aluminum, titanium). The high solubility of carbon and silicon in iron would result in a reaction of silicon carbide with the iron base alloy and poor grinding performance. Levels and types of impurities distinguish the green and black forms of silicon carbide. The sharp and easily fractured abrasive grains for abrading other non-metals such as the stone, glass, wood, and leather. SiC, like diamond, is susceptible to oxidation at higher temperatures.

   

Superabrasive - Diamond

Synthetic diamond is produced synthetically in a high temperature, high pressure process anvil press. Diamond is superabrasive grain with the highest known hardness and a cubic crystal structure. Diamond is used for grinding nonferrous metals, ceramics, glass, stone, and building materials. Diamond is not useful in grinding steel or ferrous alloys because carbon or diamond readily dissolves or reacts with iron. Diamond pastes are useful in ferrous polishing or lapping applications where heat and reactivity are not a factor. Diamond is susceptible to oxidation at higher temperatures

   

Superabrasive - CBN

Cubic boron nitride (CBN) is superabrasive grain with hardness second to diamond and a cubic crystal structure. CBN provide super grinding performance on carbon and alloy steel. Diamond is not useful in grinding steel or ferrous alloys because carbon or diamond readily dissolves or reacts with iron. CBN is produced synthetically in a high temperature, high pressure process anvil press a process similar to synthetic diamond production.

 

Tungsten Carbide

Crushed tungsten carbide grit is utilized in metal bonded products for abrasion of tough materials such as composites, fiberglass, reinforced plastics, rubber and other specialized materials.

 

Other

Other specialty, proprietary or patented abrasive grain, grit or abrasive material.

 

Metal Clad

Abrasive grain with a metal layer or coating. Certain superabrasive products utilize metal clad grain to dissipate heat or enhance bonding.