Superabrasives

Superabrasives are advanced abrasive materials known for extreme hardness and wear resistance. The term usually covers synthetic diamond and cubic boron nitride (CBN), including polycrystalline forms such as polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN). Compared with conventional abrasives like alumina or silicon carbide, superabrasives offer higher material removal rates and longer tool life, especially in metalworking, stone processing, and electronics manufacturing.

Diamond, the hardest known material, is produced synthetically for industrial use by high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Synthetic diamond provides exceptional hardness, high thermal conductivity, and chemical stability, enabling fast cutting with minimal heat. It is used in grinding wheels, polishing pads, and cutting tools for hard metals, ceramics, and nonferrous alloys.

Cubic boron nitride is the second-hardest commercially available material. It remains chemically inert with iron at high temperatures, making it well suited for grinding ferrous alloys where diamond would react. PCBN tooling and CBN wheels are common in precision grinding of steel, cast iron, and hard metals, offering good wear resistance at elevated temperatures.

Tooling uses include metal, resin, and vitrified bond systems, as well as electroplated formats. Applications span automotive, aerospace, electronics, and stone processing, including grinding, lapping, and polishing. While more expensive upfront, the longer life and higher throughput of superabrasives can reduce total manufacturing costs.