Abrasive Grain Type:

Aluminum Oxide
   

Aluminum   oxide is the most common industrial mineral in use today. Fused aluminum   oxide is produced synthetically by melting bauxite and additive in an arc   furnace to form a fused aluminum oxide ingots, which are later   crushed and sized. Fused aluminum oxide is also produced synthetically by   chemically purifying The various types of fused aluminum oxides are   distinguished by the levels of chemical impurities remaining in the fused   mineral. Titanium and chromium oxides are typical additives. Other techniques   to make industrial abrasive start with treating bauxite ore with a sol gel   process to create alumina that is sintered to produce with an extremely fine   crystalline structure typical of the sol gel or Seeded Gel products available   by Saint Gobain Abrasives. Fused aluminum oxide is available in several   variations depending on composition and processing such as white (high   purity), brown or regular (titanium oxide modified) and pink (chromium   oxide additions). Titanium oxide additions can toughen the abrasive and   enable heat treating process, which changes brown aluminum oxide to a blue   colored grain as TiO₂ precipitates   form. Aluminum oxide abrasives are also produced with chemical precursors and   precipitation, calcination and/or sintering processes. Calcined or   platelet aluminas as used in fine grit or polishing applications.    Sol-gel aluminum oxide is produced in using chemical ceramic technology,   but this abrasive has very high performance and is usually referred to   as Ceramic abrasive grain to distinguish the grain from lower performing   fused aluminum oxide.  Aluminum oxide occurs naturally in the form   of the mineral corundum, but the mineral is not used as a commercial   abrasive except as a component of emery.
   

Ceramic (e.g., Norton SG®, Norton   Quantum®)
   

Ceramic   abrasives typically consist of aluminum oxide with or without additional modifiers   produced using a sol-gel and sintering process.  The ceramic processing   route results in a hard, dense abrasive with an extremely fine crystal size   and outstanding grinding performance on a variety of workpiece materials.   Norton SG® and Norton Quantum® are examples of ceramic alumina grain   manufactured by the Saint-Gobain Group.  The patented alumina   seeding process used in manufacturing Norton SG® abrasive grain produces a   sub-micron crystal structure resulting in superior performance. 
   

Silicon Carbide
   

Silicon   carbide is a synthetic abrasive first developed in the late 1800s.  SiC   is harder than aluminum oxide, but more friable than fused aluminum   oxide grains. Silicon carbide is typically applied to nonferrous   applications (brass, aluminum, titanium).  The high solubility of carbon   and silicon in iron would result in a reaction of silicon carbide with   the iron base alloy and poor grinding performance.  Levels and   types of impurities distinguish the green and black forms of silicon carbide.   The sharp and easily fractured abrasive grains for abrading other non-metals   such as the stone, glass, wood, and leather. SiC, like diamond, is   susceptible to oxidation at higher temperatures.
   

Zirconia (e.g., Norzon®)
   

Alumina-zirconia   abrasive grain consists of a fused alloy of aluminum oxide and zirconium   oxide.  NorZon® is widely used variation proprietary to   Norton Company, which consisting of a fused and quenched eutectic   mixture of aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide.  The resulting fine   structure and higher hardness contributes to improved grinding performance on   stainless steel, titanium and other exotic metals.
   

Superabrasive - Diamond
   

Synthetic   diamond is produced synthetically in a high temperature, high pressure   process anvil press. Diamond is superabrasive grain with the   highest known hardness and a cubic crystal structure. Diamond is   used for grinding nonferrous metals, ceramics, glass, stone, and   building materials. Diamond is not useful in grinding steel or ferrous   alloys because carbon or diamond readily dissolves or reacts with iron.    Diamond pastes are useful in ferrous polishing or lapping   applications where heat and reactivity are not a factor.  Diamond is   susceptible to oxidation at higher temperatures
   

Superabrasive - CBN
   

Cubic   boron nitride (CBN) is superabrasive grain with hardness second to diamond   and a cubic crystal structure.  CBN provide super grinding performance   on carbon and alloy steel.  Diamond is not useful in grinding steel or   ferrous alloys because carbon or diamond readily dissolves or reacts with   iron.  CBN is produced synthetically in a high temperature, high   pressure process anvil press a process similar to synthetic diamond   production.
   

Tungsten Carbide
   

Crushed   tungsten carbide grit is utilized in metal bonded products for abrasion   of tough materials such as composites, fiberglass, reinforced plastics,   rubber and other specialized materials.
   

Other
   

Other   specialty, proprietary or patented abrasive grain, grit or abrasive material.
   

Metal Clad / Armored?
   

Abrasive   grain with a metal layer or coating.  Certain superabrasive products   utilize metal clad grain to dissipate heat or enhance bonding.