Diamond Abrasive Products

Lapmaster Wolters is a recognized leader in providing world-class diamond slurry, diamond compound, diamond powders, lubricants, composite plates, polishing pads, and accessories.

With many years of experience in the field of flat lapping and diamond processing expertise, Lapmaster Wolters is expanding the frontiers of precision surface finishing into virtually every industrial field.

There are many important facets to precision surface finishing with diamond. One of the most important being the shaping and overall grading (micronizing) of the diamond particles. Lapmaster Wolters only utilizes diamond powder graded by a refined sedimentation process, which is combined with microscopic and computer shape analysis to achieve an extremely tight distribution curve. Irregularly sized diamond particles may score the work surface and can degrade surface finish. Lapmaster Wolters diamond particles are chosen for matching size and shape so they will embed evenly into the lap plate and maximize cutting efficiency and surface finish. 

Our range of diamond compounds/slurries has been formulated for use on many different types of lapping plates and polishing pads. The compound can be hand sprayed onto the lapping/polishing platen or applied by an electronic dispensing system to control cost and reduce waste.

Many of our diamond compound contain only natural products friendly to the environment. Diamond compound is excellent for processing many different non-metal and metal components including mechanical seals, aircraft components, medical devices, valves, and electronics. In many applications, diamond processing can be an effective alternative to conventional lapping, concerning a 1-step combined lap & polish.

All Lapmaster Wolters diamond compounds can be supplied in virtually any concentration, particle size, formulation, or container size to meet individual customer requirements. Compounds can also be supplied as a concentrate to be diluted by the customer or suspension treated for use when no compound agitation is available.

Most of our diamond compounds can be manufactured with resin bond, metal bond, polycrystalline, or natural diamond powder.

Diamond compounds are available as follows: 

- with Natural, Synthetic or Polycrystalline Diamond

- with three base carriers:

    - Water

    - Petroleum

    - Emulsion

- in three diamond concentrations:

    - Medium (lowest)

    - Standard  

    - Strong

Lubrication is necessary for a smooth running condition between the lap plate and conditioning rings and to help evenly disperse the diamond product on the lap plate.

Lubricants used with any diamond compound or slurry/slurries should be compatible with the carrier to give the best cutting action possible, maintain even dispersion of diamond throughout the lapping surface, and produce uniform finishes. The proper lubricant in conjunction with a compatible compound or slurry/slurries will reduce lapping time and the amount of compound or slurry/slurries needed to complete the job.

Each Lapmaster Wolters lubricant formulation has been developed to work with a specific Lapmaster Wolters diamond compound or slurry/slurries to maximize cutting and polishing efficiency. 

Diamond Powders

For those customers who have applications involving the use of dry diamond powder, Lapmaster Wolters offers two (2) types of diamond: Monocrystalline Synthetic (both resin and metal bond), and Polycrystalline Synthetic diamond powder. Diamond abrasive powder is the hardest abrasive product used for lapping and polishing a wide variety of materials. Maintaining Lapmaster Wolters's high standard of quality, only premium virgin diamond is used for all applications.

Monocrystalline Synthetic

Synthetic mono-crystalline diamond is available with two types of Physical bond. The color of both products is white to off-white. Resin bond diamond has a very high friability rate. This product is best suited for fine polishing applications because the particle size reduction promotes the generation of low surface roughness.

Metal bond diamond has a very low friability rate due to the strength of the bond. This is a much stronger bond that significantly reduces the friability rate. Metal bond diamond is recommended for lapping applications where stock removal is the primary goal. Lapping compounds with this form of diamond can be recycled during a lapping process because it maintains its particle size so well. 

Good to know: Monocrystalline Synthetic are

- produced under high pressure and temperature

- multifaceted sphere-cuboid shape for strength and efficiency

- tough Monocrystalline structure with minimal friability

- general purpose applications

- ivory in color

Polycrystalline Synthetic 

Synthetic polycrystalline diamond is the highest performance abrasive available, but also the most expensive. This product possesses the strongest bond and thus the lowest friability rate. The color of this material is black to dark gray. Polycrystalline diamond is only recommended for use in special applications such as processing grown sapphire components. 

Good to know: Polycrystalline Synthetic

- are formed by explosive process - hardest of all diamonds 

- Fused Polycrystalline structure provides a unique cleavage under pressure 

- reach excellent surface finishes on very hard materials such as 

- sapphire 

- ceramic 

- ferrite

- CVD diamond 

- black in appearance 

Due to the varying characteristics and cost of the different types of diamond, Lapmaster Wolters will recommend the appropriate diamond type for your application. 

Lapmaster Wolters lapping composite plates are formulated specifically to deliver optimum performance when used with Lapmaster Wolters diamond compound and slurries. Our composite plates are manufactured from a homogeneous mix of synthetic resins, metallic particles and other materials.

The advantages of using a composite plate versus a pure metal plate can be summarize as follows:

- Composite lapping plates normally takes a more uniform charge of diamond particles compared to pure metal plates.

- Composite plates are superior in application where lapping and polishing are combined into one step.

When used properly with Lapmaster Wolters diamond compound and slurries, these plates will produce excellent surface finish, flatness and consistent stock removal rates.

Iron - Normally used with larger sized micron diamond for stock removal on hard materials such as steel, ceramic, tungsten carbide and silicon carbide. This process will produce a reflective finish on most components.

Copper - Normally used with a medium range of diamond to produce a highly polished surface on most material with a minimum of stock removal.

XP - When used with a medium to fine micron sized diamond, it will produce a mirror finish on materials such as ceramic, steel, ferrite and bronze.

Tin/Lead - Tin is the softest plate of all composite plates offered on the Lapmaster Wolters product line. When used with a fine diamond, it will produce a mirror finish on fiber optic terminals, carbon seal faces, and many other hard materials such as tungsten carbide.

Ceramic - This is the hardest plate available on the product line. It is used for lapping and polishing ceramic and other hard materials where a "clean" process is necessary.