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Diamond vs CBN (cubic boron nitride) Tools

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Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN) is a synthetic material that is renowned for its exceptional hardness and high thermal stability. It is composed of boron and nitrogen atoms arranged in a crystal lattice structure, similar to diamond. CBN is the second hardest material known after diamond and exhibits similar properties to diamond in terms of wear resistance and thermal conductivity.

CBN is primarily used in industrial applications, particularly for machining ferrous materials such as hardened steels, cast iron, and superalloys. Its hardness and thermal stability make it highly effective in high-speed machining operations, where it can withstand the heat and pressures generated during cutting and grinding processes. CBN tools, such as inserts, grinding wheels, and drills, are engineered to deliver superior performance, extended tool life, and high precision in demanding machining applications.

The exceptional properties of CBN have made it a valuable material in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing. Its ability to machine hardened materials with precision and efficiency has revolutionized the productivity and quality of metalworking CBN continues to be a subject of ongoing research and development to further enhance its properties and expand its applications in the field of cutting and abrasive tools. operations. 

CBN is recommended for working with metals, specially iron and steel. Since carbon in steel reacts with carbon in diamond, quickly dulling the diamond crystal and slowing the material removal. CBN blades provide significantly reduced cutting times for tough, gummy materials, such as lead and titanium. However, CBN are not recommended for ceramics and other non metallic materials. CBN will provide optimal performance on difficult to cut materials. These CBN tools will significantly reduce your cutting time on ferrous materials compared to conventional diamond wafering blades.

APPLICATION COMPARISON DIAMOND VS CBN (CUBIC BORON NITRIDE)

Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN) - often used for machining materials with high metallic content. 

Materials recommended for cutting with CBN:
  • Alloy steels (45-68 RC)
  • Carbon tool steels (45-68 RC)
  • Die steel (45-68 RC)
  • High speed steel (45-68 RC)
  • Chilled cast iron
  • Ni Hard
  • Forged steel
  • Meehanite iron
  • Moly chrome steel rolls
  • Inconel 600
  • Rene
  • Incoloy
  • Monel
  • Stellite
  • Colmonoy
  • Waspoloy
Aspect
Diamond
Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN)

Hardness

Extremely hard (10 on the Mohs scale)

Second hardest material after diamond (9 on the Mohs scale)

Abrasive Performance

Exceptionally high abrasive performance

 

High abrasive performance

 

Heat Resistance

Excellent heat resistance

Excellent heat resistance

Chemical Stability

Highly chemically stable

Highly chemically stable

Applications

Widely used in various cutting, grinding, and drilling applications

Primarily used for machining ferrous materials

Cutting Speed

Suitable for high-speed cutting operations

Suitable for high-speed cutting operations

Material Compatibility

Effective for a wide range of materials, including both non-ferrous and ferrous metals

Primarily used for machining ferrous metals

Cost

Expensive

Relatively expensive

Thermal Conductivity

High thermal conductivity

Low thermal conductivity

Fracture Toughness

Lower fracture toughness compared to CBN

Higher fracture toughness compared to diamond

Surface Finish

Can provide a smoother surface finish in some applications

Can provide a smoother surface finish in some applications

Availability

Abundantly available as natural and synthetic diamonds

Available, but less common than diamond

Wear Resistance

Exceptional wear resistance

Exceptional wear resistance

Electrical Conductivity

Non-conductive

Non-conductive

Uses in Industrial Applications

Cutting tools, grinding wheels, wire drawing dies, saw blades, and more

Machining of hardened steels, high-speed steels, and other ferrous materials

Wear Resistance

Exceptional wear resistance

Exceptional wear resistance

Cutting Performance

Highly effective for non-ferrous materials, ceramics, and composites

Specifically designed for machining ferrous materials

Tool Life

Generally longer tool life compared to CBN

Tool life depends on the application and material being machined

Thermal Stability

Excellent thermal stability

Excellent thermal stability

Chemical Inertness



Chemically inert, suitable for applications where chemical reactions are a concern

Chemically inert, suitable for applications where chemical reactions are a concern

Surface Finish

Can achieve very fine surface finishes

Can achieve very fine surface finishes

Precision Machining

Suitable for applications requiring high precision and tight tolerances

Suitable for applications requiring high precision and tight tolerances

 

Brittle Materials Machining

Can be used to machine brittle materials such as glass and certain ceramics

Not recommended for machining brittle materials

Cutting Tool Availability

Wide range of cutting tools available, including inserts, blades, and drills

Cutting tools available, but less common than diamond

Cutting Speed

Suitable for high-speed cutting operations

Suitable for high-speed cutting operations

Usage in Specific Industries

Widely used in aerospace, automotive, electronics, and gemstone industries

Commonly used in the automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing industries

Thermal Conductivity

High thermal conductivity

Low thermal conductivity

Electrical

Non-conductive

Non-conductive

Conductivity

Availability

Abundantly available as natural and synthetic diamonds

Available, but less common than diamond

Environmental Impact

Diamond mining can have environmental concerns

CBN production has a relatively lower environmental impact compared to diamond mining

Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN) is a synthetic material that is renowned for its exceptional hardness and high thermal stability. It is composed of boron and nitrogen atoms arranged in a crystal lattice structure, similar to diamond. CBN is the second hardest material known after diamond and exhibits similar properties to diamond in terms of wear resistance and thermal conductivity.

CBN is primarily used in industrial applications, particularly for machining ferrous materials such as hardened steels, cast iron, and superalloys. Its hardness and thermal stability make it highly effective in high-speed machining operations, where it can withstand the heat and pressures generated during cutting and grinding processes. CBN tools, such as inserts, grinding wheels, and drills, are engineered to deliver superior performance, extended tool life, and high precision in demanding machining applications.

The exceptional properties of CBN have made it a valuable material in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing. Its ability to machine hardened materials with precision and efficiency has revolutionized the productivity and quality of metalworking operations. CBN continues to be a subject of ongoing research and development to further enhance its properties and expand its applications in the field of cutting and abrasive tools.

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