Definition of Diamond Grinding Wheels

Diamond wheels are grinding wheels with industrial diamonds bonded to the periphery.

They are used for grinding extremely hard materials such as carbide cutting tips, gemstones or concrete. The saw pictured to the right is a slitting saw and is designed for slicing hard materials, typically gemstones.

Diamond is a superabrasive grain with the highest known hardness and a cubic crystal structure. It is used for grinding nonferrous metals, ceramics, glass, stone, and building materials. Diamond is not useful in grinding steel or ferrous alloys, however, 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.) Synthetic diamond is produced synthetically in a high temperature, high pressure process anvil press.