Diamond paste is a type of polishing compound that contains finely ground diamond powder mixed with some kind of liquid to form a paste. This is then applied to a polishing cloth to perform the desired task. A wide range of different diamond pastes are available for use in a variety of applications. Some are oil based, some are water based, and others are solvent based. Most of these compounds are color coded to indicate the grit size of the diamond used within the paste. This enables the operator to select the appropriate diamond size for the specific application.
A variety of different grits are used in diamond paste to allow users to finely polish various types of metals, alloys and hard materials. These finer grits can be useful in the finishing stages of fabrication when high levels of gloss are required. Some of these diamond compounds are also used in the metallographic and petrographic fields for polishing a variety of samples, including metals, glass, ceramics, and semiconductors.
Other types of diamond paste are formulated to provide abrasive qualities that can be beneficial in the cutting, lapping and polishing of a variety of materials. These pastes can be useful for polishing and lapping tungsten carbide, ceramics, sapphire crystal, glass, and more. These products are often designed for use on automated systems, allowing for faster and more precise results.
Some of these diamond pastes are also used to finely sharpen a variety of blades, either for general use or for restoration of damaged razor edges. Traditionally, this is done by applying the product to a flat piece of close-grained maple or MDF and then stropping as you would with a standard sharpening stone. Depending on the grit level, this can result in an exceptionally keen edge.
Other diamond pastes are designed to work in the production of dental materials, including amalgam, porcelain and gold. They are used to smooth these materials and other dental surfaces for maximum esthetics. These are often formulated to include more fine diamond grits in order to facilitate this process, and they can be applied with a rubber cup, stiff bristle brush or felt wheel.
A number of these compounds are also intended for use in the die polishing industry. These can be especially helpful in achieving superior surface finishes for die components, reducing the number of polishing steps that are required.
Another important attribute of diamond paste is its versatility, allowing it to be used for a variety of tasks, including lapping, polishing, and sharpening. This is possible because of the fact that these products are formulated using a variety of different diamond sizes. This allows them to work well in a variety of environments, from abrasive to semi-abrasive. Many of these are also designed to be oil-soluble, which allows them to cut more quickly and be used on surfaces with high permeability. They are also available in a set of 15 different compounds that cover a full spectrum of grits.