Diamond dust is a powerful substance used in industrial applications such as making abrasives and drill bits. Most diamonds are processed into diamond dust for industrial use, as they are not valuable as gemstones. Synthetic diamonds are often used to create diamond dust, and it is commonly used in the creation of abrasives and tools. However, it wears away quickly when used on high-speed iron alloys.
Diamond dust is a finely grained diamond that is often used to make drill bits and abrasives and serves as an alloying ingredient with metals. Diamond is one of the most potent substances known on Earth, making diamond dust popular for industrial purposes. Most mined diamonds and nearly all synthetic diamonds are processed into diamond dust, because they are not shiny enough or colorful enough to be valuable as a gemstone. While powdered diamond is strong, it wears away when used at high speeds on iron alloys.
Considered one of the strongest substances on Earth, diamonds are generally thought of as gemstones, but that’s often not how most diamonds are used. When diamonds are mined, they are checked for color, clarity and luster to see if they are valuable as gems. Gem-quality diamonds are professionally cut and polished; the rest is sent to refineries which pulverize it into diamond dust.
Most of the naturally mined diamonds, about 80%, are used for industrial purposes. Synthetic diamonds that mimic the strength of natural diamond can be created under conditions of high temperature and high pressure. These synthetic diamonds are widely used to create diamond dust. About 80-90% of all industrial diamonds are synthetic, because they are cheaper to purchase, and are rarely valued as gemstones because they are not naturally created.
Being so strong, one of the main uses of diamond dust is in the creation of abrasives. An abrasive is a substance, such as sandpaper, that is rubbed against another substance, such as wood, to wear away some layers of the second substance. This makes the second substance smooth or rough, depending on the design of the abrasive.
Another major use of diamond dust is in making tools, such as drill bits. To make these, powdered diamond is typically added to a pool of molten metal, spreading diamond grains throughout the metal. When the metal is cast into a tool shape, the diamond dust will remain in the metal, making it stronger.
While diamond is strong, tools for working with powdered diamond are not good when used against high speed iron alloys. This is because the high speed creates a reaction between the iron and carbon in the diamond, making the carbon soluble in the iron. The result is that the diamond wears out very quickly, making it difficult to maintain.
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