Applications and Future Development Trends of Diamond Micro Powder

What is Diamond Micro Powder?

• Definition: Diamond micro powder refers to diamond particles with a grain size finer than 60 microns.

  
  

• Classification: Traditional diamond micro powder can be divided into two major categories: polycrystalline diamond micro powder and single-crystal diamond micro powder. With the rapid development of nanotechnology, a new type has emerged from the original two categories: nano-diamond micro powder.

  
  

• Characteristics: High hardness, good wear resistance, high toughness, good thermal stability, etc.

What are the Main Applications of Diamond Micro Powder?

As an Abrasive

Due to the fact that the grinding ability of diamond is 1.25 times greater than cubic boron nitride, 2.85-3.57 times greater than silicon carbide, and 6.25-7.14 times greater than white corundum, diamond micro powder, as a super hard abrasive, possesses unparalleled grinding ability. 

It is mainly used in the industrial, scientific, and medical sectors for precision grinding or polishing of various precision components; for the manufacturing of resin-bonded tools, metal-bonded tools, and electroplated tools; and as a fine abrasive for mold processing, gemstone polishing, and gem bearing manufacturing.

As a Functional Material

Owing to its thermal and electrical properties, it becomes the primary raw material for making polycrystalline diamond sintered bodies, such as geological and petroleum drill bits, cutting tools, and wire drawing dies. Mixing diamond micro powder into thermosetting resin polymers, cellulose, phenolic resins, or ceramic sheets can create new materials with improved thermal conductivity and reduced thermal expansion.

Preparation of Nano-Composite Structural Materials

Combining nano-sized diamond with nano silicon powder, nano-ceramics, and various nano metals can produce new types of nanostructured materials. Due to their unique properties, they can be used to manufacture semiconductor devices, integrated circuit components, and microcomputer parts.

Development Trends of Diamond Micro Powder

Finer Particle Size Classification with Narrower Grade Ranges

Currently, many industrial technology sectors require the use of diamond micro powder with sizes ranging from 0 to 4 microns. Concerning diamond micro powder below 4 microns, the American National Standard ANSI B74.20—1981 formulated in 1981 specifies three grades: 0-1, 0-2, 2-4 microns. The industry standard IDA formulated in 1984 specifies five grades: 0-1/2, 0-1, 0-2, 1-3, 2-4 microns. From a manufacturer's perspective, the particle size of diamond micro powder is finer, with a narrower size range.

Diamond Micro Powder with Strict Particle Size Tolerances

This type of diamond micro powder has a particle size tolerance of no more than ±1 micron, typically used in critical industrial sectors to completely eliminate technical problems caused by oversize particles.

Development of Specialized Diamond Micro Powder

Different kinds of diamond micro powder each have distinct characteristics. One type is single-crystal diamond micro powder, whose particles are high-strength intact crystals with cubic octahedral shapes and multi-faceted cutting surfaces, not easily falling off into useless (non-cutting) micro-fine grains. They have highly effective retention with metal binders and exhibit high strength and resistance to crushing and fracturing under high-temperature conditions. Therefore, diamond products using metal binders provide sharp cutting actions and achieve good surface finishes.

Another type of diamond micro powder is characterized by its brittleness. Its particles are irregular near-spherical chunks with rough, uneven surfaces. When subjected to stress, the brittleness causes the particles to fracture, producing new sharp cutting points. 

This type of diamond micro powder is ideal for manufacturing resin-bonded grinding wheels, offering gentle precision grinding and polishing actions.

As the diamond tool manufacturing industry matures and the economy grows rapidly, the market demand for diamond micro powder is also increasing rapidly. Advances in tool manufacturing technology have raised higher requirements for the diamond micro powder industry. Upgrading and adjusting product structures towards high-end specialization have become the future development direction of the diamond micro powder industry.