How to choose the diamond pads II

2018-07-26

Diamond Quality

It's nearly impossible to assess the quality of the diamonds used in the pad, or for that matter, the grading and quantity of diamonds. Ultimately it's the diamonds that do the cutting, and they are what makes a pad expensive. The better the quality of diamond, the better the grading and the more diamonds in the pad, the more expensive the pad will be.

It’s impossible to find $1 pads and $100 pads that look almost identical. What's not visible are the diamonds, and that's where you need to trust your supplier to inform you of what you're getting.

The most expensive pads use the best industrial diamonds. The diamond concentration is high (each manufacturer optimizes the quality and quantity of diamond in their pads), and the gradation is narrow. Like sand and gravel, diamonds come in a variety of sizes. A narrow gradation means almost all of the diamonds are about the same size, so the grit number of the disc is a more precise description of the diamond size gradation. Any variation tends toward smaller diamonds, which don’t affect the quality of the concrete surface.

Cheap pads use low grade diamonds. These tend to have more flaws and much poorer gradation. In addition, fewer diamonds may be used in the pad. Often the gradation is broader, so a 100 grit pad may actually have significant amounts of smaller diamonds and some coarser diamonds (like 70 grit). This results in a lower surface quality (more scratches) and slower cutting (because there are more smaller diamonds in the pad).

Binder

The binder that encapsulates the diamonds is just as important as the diamonds, and it has a profound effect on the performance and longevity of the pad. Binder materials range from ceramic to resin, and different materials are used for specific applications. Binder hardness is important. A binder that's too soft will wear away quickly when processing an abrasive material like concrete.  

Nearly all wet polishing pads use a resin binder, and resins vary. It's very rare that a pad distributor will describe the binder with any meaningful detail, so here personal observations and reliance on trusted recommendations are necessary to make a good choice. Too often the least expensive pads use soft resin binders that wear away quickly. If you end up using three times as many pads as you would with a pad that costs twice as much, you are not saving money in the end.

Ceramic binders tend to wear better and stand up to higher temperatures than resin pads. Many dry pads use a ceramic binder, which helps to prevent the smearing and glazing that can occur when a resin based dry pad is run at a speed that's too high.

Our company DTS is a professional manufacturer of diamond tools. We provide high quality diamond tools with more diamond in our pads. You would find exactly what you needs.