Superabrasive Powder
The raw material at the base of the entire supply chain. It is also the category with the widest gap between what a certificate claims and what the sieve actually delivers.
What this category covers
- Micron diamond powder — for lapping, polishing and as the diamond phase in bond systems
- CBN (cubic boron nitride) — for grinding ferrous materials where diamond is chemically unsuitable
- Coated grit — nickel or copper coated for improved retention in resin and metal bonds
- Graded mesh fractions — from coarse (around 30/40 mesh) down to sub-micron
Why grading is the whole game
Diamond powder is sold by mesh or micron range, and the range is where the honesty problem lives. A “0–2 micron” powder that actually contains a 15% tail above 4 micron will scratch surfaces you expected to polish.
Two producers can quote the same nominal grade at very different prices, and both can be telling the truth about the nominal figure — because the nominal figure is not the full distribution.
This is why we insist on particle size distribution analysis (laser diffraction or sieve, depending on the range) rather than accepting a grade certificate.
The parameters that matter
- D50 and the distribution width — the median and how tight the curve is
- Tailing — the percentage above the upper limit; this is what scratches
- Shape and surface — blocky versus irregular affects cutting behaviour
- Coating weight — for coated grit, the percentage of nickel or copper by weight
- Impurity content — metallic impurities affect bond behaviour and, in some applications, the workpiece
Where it comes from
Henan produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s synthetic diamond, including the micron powder. The producers range from large, instrumented plants with in-house laser diffraction to small operations that grade by sieve and sell on price.
Knowing which is which matters more in this category than in any other we handle.
What we verify
- Particle size distribution by laser diffraction for micron grades, with the raw data attached to the report
- Coating weight by difference on coated material
- Visual and microscopic assessment of agglomeration and contamination
- Sample retention — a sealed reference sample from each lot, held for twelve months
What we need to quote
Grade (mesh or micron range), quantity, application (bond system or loose abrasive), coating requirement, and the acceptable D50 tolerance. If you are matching a current supplier’s material, a 50 g sample is the most efficient way to start.
Sourcing powder? Send the grade and application — we will come back with producers whose actual distribution matches the nominal one.
Ready to price your order?
Tell us the specification. Three to five factory quotes come back within five working days.