Diamond Types

The unique properties of diamond make it a leading choice for industrial tool use.
The hardness of diamond allows it to be ground and polished into very accurate and sharp cutting edges.
Check out our page with some diamond facts to learn more about what diamonds Chardon Tool uses in our wide array of tools.

Below, we will delve into different types of diamonds and other very hard cutting tool materials.

Natural

Natural diamonds are sought after by consumers for their beauty, ability to refract light, and their inherent uniqueness.
On the industrial side, diamond is sought after for its unique properties and their application to industrial processes.
We select only the best natural diamonds for use in our tools to ensure we provide the highest quality products.
Our tools are less prone to breakage and achieve superior results in surface finish and edge wear, as a result.
This can be attributed to the knowledge obtained after years of experience and working closely with our customers.

Synthetic

Single crystal synthetic diamonds are grown in a laboratory from a small diamond seed.
They have similar properties to natural diamond but often have superior hardness, thermal conductivity, and electron mobility than natural diamond.
Synthetic diamonds can be manufactured in a variety of colors as well as completely colorless.
We work with HPHT and CVD synthetic diamonds to create our tools.
Also, many synthetic diamond tools can be relapped just like their natural counterparts.

Polycrystalline Diamonds (PCD)

Polycrystalline diamond (PCD) is composed of micron and submicron-sized diamond crystals that are bonded together under high heat and pressure.
A PCD cutting tool cannot produce the same form accuracy and surface finish as a single crystal diamond tool because of their granular nature.
PCD tools are often used for rough machining to near-net shape.
Final machining is typically completed with single crystal diamond tools.
PCD tools are used to work on the same materials as single crystal diamond tools.

Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN)

Cubic boron nitride crystals are the next hardest cutting tool material after diamond.
Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (CBN) has a structure very similar to polycrystalline diamond (PCD).
A CBN cutting tool cannot produce the same form accuracy and surface finish as a single crystal diamond tool because it is also granular like PCD.
However, CBN is used to shape many of the materials that are not diamond-friendly, including hardened steel.
CBN tools are typically used for machining to near net shapes before final grinding or polishing.