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Application areas of PCD and CBN Insert
Olivia
Application areas of PCD and CBN Insert
Both PCD (Polycrystalline Diamond) inserts and CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride) inserts are superhard cutting tools fabricated via high-temperature and high-pressure (HTHP) processes. PCD inserts, composed primarily of diamond micropowders bonded with metals like cobalt or nickel, boast extremely high hardness and outstanding wear resistance, making them ideal for machining non-ferrous metals (e.g., aluminum alloys, copper alloys) and non-metallic materials (e.g., carbon fiber composites, glass fiber reinforced plastics, graphite). They deliver superior surface finish in precision machining but exhibit poor thermal stability, reacting with iron elements at temperatures above 700°C, which renders them unsuitable for cutting ferrous metals. In contrast, CBN inserts have slightly lower hardness than PCD but feature excellent thermal stability—retaining hardness even at 1200°C—and strong chemical inertness, preventing reactions with ferrous metals. Thus, they are the top choice for hard turning applications involving hardened steel, chilled cast iron, and other ferrous materials, though they suffer from faster wear and lower cost-effectiveness when machining non-ferrous materials.
PCD inserts are widely used in the automotive industry for machining aluminum engine blocks and other components, in the aerospace sector for processing carbon fiber and other composite materials, in the electronics field for manufacturing graphite electrodes and semiconductor-related silicon-aluminum materials, and also for high-precision machining of sapphire, ceramics and more to meet the requirements of medical device and optical component production;
CBN inserts, on the other hand, are mainly applied in the automotive industry for turning hardened steel parts such as gearbox gears, in the aerospace field for machining high-temperature alloys of turbine blades, as well as playing a key role in the mold manufacturing industry for processing hard materials of injection and stamping molds, in the heavy industry and energy sectors for producing wear-resistant components of bearings and drilling equipment, and in the medical device field for manufacturing orthopedic implants and other parts made of stainless steel and titanium alloys.
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