Do you know the types and applications of diamond metallographic cutting pieces, which are handy in metallographic laboratories?
Diamond metallographic cutting pieces are usually divided into four types: metal based, resin based, metal resin mixed based, and nickel based.

1、 Metal based (sintering): Diamond is sintered in a furnace in a matrix made of alloys or other metals composed of iron, cobalt, nickel, bronze, copper, tungsten, and other powders, resulting in multi-layer diamond; Impregnation; Within the metal substrate. By adjusting and controlling the heating rate, pressure, sintering temperature, and holding time based on the matrix composition, the compacted material is sintered to a sufficient density. Simply put, it means mixing and sintering selected diamonds with specific metal alloys to achieve a perfect display of cutting performance on any material. Metal based diamond metallographic cutting blades are suitable for cutting hard materials with Rockwell hardness ranging from 45 to 75. They have higher wear resistance and can effectively fix the diamond in place, resulting in higher cutting efficiency.
Metal based diamond metallographic cutting sheets are widely used in sample preparation. Generally speaking, metal based diamond metallographic cutting blades have better wear resistance and longer service life than resin based and nickel based (electroplating) metallographic cutting blades. The diamond metallographic cutting blade sintered with the innovative technology formula of QMAXIS from the United States is uniform and consistent, and each cutting fully utilizes its value and superior performance.

2、 Resin based: Resin based diamond metallographic cutting blades have a shorter service life than metal based ones, but longer service life than nickel based (electroplating) ones. Resin based matrices are softer than other matrices and are commonly used in applications that require smooth surfaces and low cutting volume. Resin based adhesives are made from a hard polymer - solid tar, which binds diamonds to the matrix and must remain very fragile in order to expose new diamonds. Therefore, hard and high-quality diamonds are not used in resin based materials. High quality diamond is harder than resin adhesive matrix, and it will quickly disintegrate and fix the adhesive in place. So, diamonds used for resin bonding are of medium or lower quality, and most of them will prematurely break or fall off before they have the opportunity to be used. In addition, frequent trimming of the blade can cause the edges to lose roundness. Another drawback of resin based materials is their high wear rate and lack of wear resistance.

3、 Nickel based (electroplating): Nickel based diamond metallographic cutting pieces have a high diamond concentration and can be quickly cut while generating very low heat. The nickel based diamond metallographic cutting blade is electroplated to bond the diamond to the cut surface, which can quickly remove the material. It has a shorter service life and is cheaper than metal bonded, resin bonded, and metal resin mixed bonded metallographic cutting pieces. Electroplated diamond metallographic cutting blades are not only suitable for dry cutting in some applications (without the use of coolant), but also suitable for cutting soft, ductile, and viscous materials, especially for cutting materials such as thermosetting plastics, fiberglass, electrocarbon, graphite, and soft magnetic ferrite. However, due to its negative impact on environmental protection, electroplated diamond metallographic cutting pieces have been gradually banned in Europe and America.
If you want to know how to select the correct diamond metallographic cutting blade, please pay attention to Linkenergy's WeChat official account or log on to the official website www.linkenergy.cn, or contact Linkenergy's metallographic engineer for consultation.