Diamond Suspension

Diamond suspensions are used during the sample preparation stages for fast stock removal and to produce a perfect polished surface ready for analysis. The type of diamond suspension to use depends on the material being polished and the surface finish required. A few examples of processes specific to different materials are listed below. Generally Monocrystalline diamond will provide a good performance for most processes but in some cases Polycrystalline diamond suspension will be required. For example, polishing hard or sintered materials, Polycrystalline diamond offers outstanding stock removal and polishing performance.

Aquapol is the next generation of water based diamond suspensions for sample preparation. It is available in monocrystalline (Aquapol-M) and polycrystalline (Aquapol-P). Aquapol is easy to clean and non-foaming.

  • Uniform suspension of diamond particles
  • No agitation required
  • Suitable for dispensing by Kemet Electronic Dispenser or alternative systems
  • ZERO Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC*)
  • Color coded for easy identification
  • Lubricating Fluid Type W9 recommended with AquaPol

Available in 400g bottles with trigger spray. Other sizes (500ml, 1 liter, 2.5 liters etc.) are available upon request.

We also offer low viscosity, high concentration, oil based suspensions available in monocrystalline (Type OM) and polycrystalline (Type OP).

Manufactured to ISO 9001:2015 Quality Assurance standards.

ZERO Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) - not classified as an atmospheric pollutant and offer health and safety benefits. VOCs are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature, some of which can be dangerous to human health and/or cause harm to the environment.
zero voc

diamond suspensions for metallography

Aquapol-M diamond suspension

Water Based Monocrystalline Diamond suspension. zero voc

Micron 400g 1 Litre
1/10 (0.1) 219471 219490
1/4 (0.25) 219459 219491
1/2 (0.5) 219457 219492
1 219450 219493
3 219440 219494
6 219448 219495
9 219442 219496
15 219444 219497
25 219446 219498

Aquapol-P diamond suspension

Water Based Polycrystalline diamond suspension. zero voc

Micron 400g 1 Litre
1/20 (0.05) 219500 -
1/10 (0.1) 219472 219484
1/4 (0.25) 219461 219485
1/2 (0.5) 219463 219486
1 219452 219487
3 219453 219488
6 219454 219482
9 219455 219483
15 219456 219489

Note to users of WM/WP suspensions – these are still available

Type OM diamond suspension

Oil Based Monocrystalline Diamond suspension. zero voc

Micron 400g
1/10 (0.1) 216321
1/4 (0.25) 216323
1/2 (0.5) 216322
1 216324
3 216326
6 216328
9 216329
15 216331
25 216332
45 216333

Type OP diamond suspension

Oil Based Polycrystalline diamond suspension. zero voc

Micron 400g
1/10 (0.1) 216341
1/4 (0.25) 216342
1/2 (0.5) 216343
1 216344
3 216346
6 216347
9 216349
15 216350

Which Diamond Suspensions to use?

Below are a few examples of the recommended diamond suspensions for use during the polishing stages of sample preparation. A lubricating fluid is required.

Material Abrasive
Pre-Polishing Final Polishing
AISI 1040 (Carbon Steel) 6µ Aquapol-P 1µ Aquapol-P
AISI 4340 Low alloy steel 3µ Aquapol-P 1µ Aquapol-P
AISI M2 High Speed Tool Steel 6µ Aquapol-M 3µ Aquapol-M
AA8011 Aluminum Alloy 3µ Aquapol-P COL-K (NC)
Carbon Fiber - 1µ Aquapol-P
Material Abrasive
Pre-Polishing Final Polishing
Ceramic - 0.25µ Aquapol-P 
Copper 1µ Aquapol-P COL-K (NC)
Glass 3µ Aquapol-P 0.25µ Aquapol-P 
Mg-9Al (Magnesium Alloy) 3µ Aquapol-P COL-K (NC)
Titanium 6µ Aquapol-P COL-K (NC)

Click here for more Metallographic Specimen Preparation processes

EasyPol - Diamond & Lubricant in a Single Application zero voc

Easypol is a diamond suspension and lubricant combination, resulting in faster and simpler metallographic sample preparation. These suspensions result in high stock removal, allowing preparation time to be reduced. The diamond suspension / lubricant combination ensures that the optimum ratio of diamonds and lubricant is predetermined, resulting in a quality polishing operation, first time and every time.

  • Lower cost of consumables
  • Reduction in preparation time
  • Excellent and reproducible results
  • Easy to use
  • Water based
  • Easy to clean
  • Can be used in automatic dosing systems
  • Also available in 2.5 and 5 liters
Micron EasyPol
(For routine metallographic sample preparation)
EasyPol+
(Special formula for reduced polishing times)
  500ml 2.5 Liters 5 Liters 500ml 2.5 Liters 5 Liters
1/4 250600 - - - - -
1 250601 250621 250619 250606 250628 250613
3 250602 250618 250622 250607 250629 250614
6 250603 250623 250624 250608 250630 250615
9 250604 250625 250617 250609 250631 250616
15 250605 250626 250627 250610 250632 250633

Other Diamond Suspensions Available

Type AP Diamond Suspension

Kemet Diamond suspension AP is a high quality alcohol based polycrystalline diamond suspension. It is ideal for polishing specimens which must not come into contact with water. Available in 500ml bottles (other sizes available upon request)

Diamond suspension AP

  500ml
Micron Code
1 250350
3 250271
6 250272

Type WX Diamond Suspension ... A high viscosity liquid diamond suspension! zero voc

For most applications where a liquid diamond suspension is required, we would recommend Aquapol-M (manufactured with monocrystalline diamond powder) or Aquapol-P (manufactured with polycrystalline diamond powder).

However, for a certain number of specialized applications, where a more viscous liquid diamond is called for, we have developed a suspension called Type WX.

  • WX is highly suitable for the polishing of metallographic samples.
  • No agitation is required - the diamond remains in suspension.
  • The finely graded diamond powder is uniformly dispersed throughout the Liquid carrier, ensuring the generation of perfect surface finishes.
  • Available in Strong or Extra Strong Concentrations.
  • Water-soluble - components are easily cleaned.
  • Color coded for ease of identification.
  • Suitable for use on all types of Kemet Lapping and Polishing Plates.
  • Supplied either in 400g, 425g or in 2500 gram (nett) bottles.

If a lubricating fluid is required, Kemet Type W2 is recommended.

Advantages of Polycrystalline Diamond Suspension

The reason for the superior performance of polycrystalline diamond over monocrystalline results from the structure of the diamond particles. Monocrystalline diamond contains a single crystal structure which has distinct cleavage planes causing the diamond to fracture under stress.

Polycrystalline diamond contains up to several thousand particles less than 0.01 μm in size bonded together in a random structure. When high stress produces microfractures, these are limited to small groups of crystallites on the perimeter. Major cleavage of the diamond cannot occur.

This random structure gives polycrystalline diamond toughness in all directions resulting in less subsurface damage.

Polycrystalline Diamond

Ultra Fast Cutting:

Polycrystalline diamond particles are ultra rough with three times the surface area of Monocrystalline particles.

  • More cutting edges
  • Faster stock removal rate
  • Fewer polishing steps

Finest Surface Finishes:

Polycrystalline diamond particles abrade a workpiece uniformly regardless of orientation. They produce none of the random scratches and microcracking sometimes caused by monocrystalline particles.

  • Smoother finishes
  • Fewer random scratches
  • Less subsurface damage

Fewer Polishing Operations:

Polycrystalline particles are tough and equally strong in all directions. This permits the use of higher unit pressures for lapping and polishing, often reducing the number of steps required.

Maintains Surface Integrity:

Polycrystalline diamond works well with materials that contain various soft / hard / brittle domains such as complex cermets, ceramics and metallographic or petrographic specimens. Polycrystalline diamond preserves the integrity of the surface by not plucking out the brittle areas or aggressively abrading non homogeneous areas.

Blocky Shape with Self Sharpening Particles:

The polycrystalline structure lends itself to the creation of particles that are blocky in shape. As tiny monocrystallites break off, they reveal more equally rough sharp monocrystallites with equally effective multifaceted cutting edges. Blocky mass and shape are preserved.

Faster and Smoother:

Even under low pressure loading of parts, the many small crystallite groups that contact the workpiece achieve extremely high unit pressures which remove material from the surface in small bites. The net effect is both faster stock removal and a smoother polished surface.

Applications

Kemet polycrystalline Diamond Products are particularly recommended for the following applications:

  • Sapphire – lapping and polishing of sapphire wafers
  • Ceramic products including hip joints and other technical ceramic products where a high quality finish is required
  • Fiber optics – in particular for communications terminations
  • Metallographic and petrographic applications for polishing sintered materials – for example tungsten carbide and ceramics
  • Readrite heads for Disc drives and magnetic recording heads

Kemet Polycrystalline Diamond Products can be tailormade to suit a particular application. Contact Kemet for further information and advice.

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