Diamond Powder - Polycrystalline
- Diamond type
- Polycrystalline
- Compatibility
- Buehler, Struers, LECO, Allied, and PACE — and all other major brands
Overview
Polycrystalline Diamond Powder
What This Product Is
Polycrystalline diamond powder is loose, dry diamond in which each particle is a cluster of many small crystals. The multiple facets give many cutting points and a self-sharpening action, so it removes material quickly while leaving a fine, uniform finish with low subsurface deformation. Supplied dry and graded by micron, it lets a lab charge cloths and laps or mix custom suspensions and pastes.
Intended Use in Metallography
Used for intermediate and fine polishing (and lapping in coarser grades), it is commonly selected when:
- Polishing hard or mixed-phase materials where uniform cutting matters
- Higher removal rates are wanted without sacrificing finish
- Controlling relief between hard and soft phases
- A lab prefers to charge or mix its own diamond at a chosen concentration
Typical Applications
Commonly used for:
- Hardened and tool steels
- Carbides, cermets, and wear-resistant materials
- Ceramics and composites
- Charging cloths and laps; custom suspensions and pastes
Beyond metallography, polycrystalline diamond powder is also used in:
- Petrography of hard minerals
- Ceramics and advanced or composite materials
- Optics and glass finishing
- Tool, die, and mold finishing
When This Product Is NOT Ideal
- For soft, ductile metals prone to smearing
- When a ready-to-use suspension, paste, or spray is more convenient
- When a single-crystal (monocrystalline) diamond is specified
Where This Fits in the Preparation Process
- After grinding, charged to a cloth or lap for polishing
- Ahead of an oxide final polish, when required
Specifications
| Abrasive type | Polycrystalline diamond |
| Form | Dry loose powder (charge, mix, or lap) |
| Action | Multi-facet, self-sharpening — high removal with fine finish |
| Options | Multiple micron sizes; sold by carats per bottle — see product options |
| Application | Metallographic polishing and lapping |
| Micron Size | 1/10 micron, 1/8 micron, 1/4 micron, 1/2 micron, 1 micron, 3 micron, 6 micron, 9 micron, 15 micron, 30 micron, 45 micron |
| Carats Per Bottle | 25, 50, 75, 100 |
| Custom sizing | Custom sizes and concentrations are made to spec if what you need is not listed |
| Compatibility | Buehler, Struers, LECO, Allied, and PACE — and all other major brands. |
Compatibility and Equivalents
Metallographic diamond powder for the same polishing steps served by the diamond powders from Buehler, Struers, and Allied High Tech. Compatible with all major systems (Buehler, Struers, LECO, Allied, PACE). It is a comparable product for the same step — not a branded or drop-in item.
Same grading and micron sizing, typically 20 to 40 percent lower in price.
Request a free sample and test it on your own bench.
Named brand products are referenced only to identify the comparable item and prep step. We do not claim our product is identical to, or a replacement for, any trademarked product, and no affiliation or endorsement is implied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose polycrystalline over monocrystalline powder?
Polycrystalline particles have many cutting edges and self-sharpen as they wear, giving higher removal and low subsurface damage on hard and mixed-phase materials. Monocrystalline is single-crystal and cuts sharply and predictably; the choice depends on material and procedure.
Does polycrystalline diamond remove material faster?
Generally yes, at a given micron size, because of its many cutting points and self-sharpening action — which is why it suits hard, abrasion-resistant, and mixed-phase materials.
Can I mix my own suspension from the powder?
Yes. Disperse it in a compatible carrier to the concentration your step requires, or charge it directly onto a cloth or lap. Keep one micron size per cloth.
Can polycrystalline diamond powder be used outside metallography?
Yes. It polishes and laps hard materials across petrography, ceramics and advanced materials, optics and glass, and tool and die finishing. Its self-sharpening particles are well suited to hard, wear-resistant work in all of these.