鑽石砂輪與CBN砂輪怎麼選擇？

How to Choose Between Diamond Wheels and CBN Wheels?

Science Classroom / By

Grinding wheel abrasives can be divided into general and super types. Diamond and CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride) are considered super abrasives due to their extremely high hardness, making them suitable for grinding high-hardness materials. Diamond wheels are not recommended for use on iron-containing workpieces, as they can catalyze the conversion of diamond into graphite, which affects performance and leads to wheel wear. When grinding temperatures exceed 600°C, diamonds are prone to melting or forming carbides, making them unsuitable for high-temperature processing. In contrast, CBN wheels are ideal for high-speed processing and iron-containing materials such as tool steel and mold steel, where they demonstrate unique advantages. As technological advancements lead to higher precision requirements in manufacturing processes, selecting the most suitable grinding wheel becomes crucial. The most expensive option is not necessarily the best; rather, the most appropriate one is the optimal choice.

石榴石

Garnet—A Gemstone and High-Tech Material?

Gemstones / By

Garnet is a versatile and colorful gemstone. Its name comes from the Latin word for pomegranate, due to its color and shape resembling pomegranate seeds. Garnet is a group of silicate minerals that have been used as gemstones and abrasives since the Bronze Age. There are many types of garnet, including pyrope, spessartine, and almandine each with unique chemical compositions and color characteristics. In addition to its use as a precious gemstone, garnet has extensive industrial applications, such as in water jet cutting, mechanical polishing, and optical equipment. In summary, garnet’s diverse uses and unique physical properties make it valuable in various fields with promising application potential.

青金石

Lapis Lazuli – A gemstone of higher status than gold

Gemstones / By

Lapis Lazuli is a rock contains a variety of minerals, mainly composed of lapis lazuli, sodalite, etc., the white part is calcite, and the golden part is pyrite. The range of its colors includes teal, blue, indigo and blue-violet, the ones with more sky blue stone display brightly azure color. Lapis Lazuli has a long-standing history as a symbol of imperial power and wealth, and its status was valued in ancient Egypt, Babylon and other cultures. Ancient China called it “Emperor blue”, and the West called it “Ultramarine”, which is the emblem of nobility and majesty. Lapis Lazuli is often used in jewelry, pigments and medicines, and has high commercial value, the less white and golden part the better when buying.

天河石

A gemstone with mysterious river-colored — Amazonite

Gemstones / By

Amazonite is a blue-green or green-blue variety of microcline feldspar, first discovered in the Amazon River basin. Its name comes from the Japanese “Tengaishi,” which means “river in the sky.” The distinct characteristic of Amazonite is its grid-like structure of blue-green and white squares caused by its twinning structure. High-quality Amazonite can be used as gemstones, while lower-quality stones are used for carving. Common imitations include copper-containing blue-green quartzite from China, known as “Guizhou Jade,” which differs from Amazonite in its higher hardness, lack of cleavage, and absence of the grid structure. When selecting Amazonite, look for pure color, transparency with few inclusions, and evenly distributed or inconspicuous grids. It is essential to avoid impact to prevent cracking. Some sellers use acid treatments to remove impurities, which may increase transparency but damage the structure. Methods to identify Amazonite include weight comparison and observing the stone’s pattern.

光譜石

A gems with unique optical effects – Labradorite

Gemstones / By

Labradorite gets its name from the Labrador region in Canada, where it was first discovered. The stone contains a variety of metal element crystal minerals, giving it a unique play of colors known as labradorescence. This phenomenon causes the stone to shimmer with vibrant colors. Labradorites that display a full spectrum of colors are called “Spectrolite,” which is especially rare and valuable. Labradorite typically appears in gray, brown, or black, while gemstone-quality labradorite can exhibit iridescent colors such as red, yellow, blue, and green. When choosing labradorite, stones with a beautiful and large area of labradorescence are the most desirable. Due to its well-developed cleavage, labradorite is prone to breakage, so it should be set in jewelry with protective designs and handled carefully to avoid impact. There are almost no imitations of labradorite, but syenite rocks have a similar luster and are often counterfeited, but the quality is not as good as gem-grade labradorite.

日長石

A sparkling gemstone – Sunstone

Gemstones / By

Sunstone, discovered by mineralogists in 1837, is primarily composed of oligoclase from the plagioclase series. Initially, it was very expensive due to its rarity, but it became more widely available after new deposits were discovered in Norway and Siberia. Its name comes from the fact that when viewed from a certain direction, the gemstone will shine with a bright golden brillience, which is a phenomenon known as “Aventurescence”. This shimmer is due to the presence of fine mineral inclusions within the gemstone, such as chalcopyrite, native copper, annite, goethite or hematite, which reflect golden to brownish-yellow light. The color of the gemstone is influenced by the amount of inclusions; the more inclusions it has, the deeper the color. When selecting sunstone, it is best to choose one that is evenly covered with metallic shimmer. To maintain it, avoid impacts to prevent damage along the cleavage planes.

Moon stone

A gemstone that radiates moonlight-like sheen — Moonstone

Gemstones / By

Moonstone is a renowned phenomenon gemstone. In addition to the basic 4Cs(carat, color, clarity, cut), the optical effect is a crucial consideration. High-quality moonstone is semi-transparent, while lower quality ones appear milky and turbid with less adularescence. The best moonstone display a vivid blue sheen when viewed from the front; if this effect is only seen in parts, the gemstone’s value decreases. Moreover, moonstones exhibiting both cat’s eye effect and blue sheen are extremely rare and valuable!

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A gemstone that glows at night — Fluorite

Gemstones / By

Fluorite comes in various colors due to its exposure to different minerals during its formation process. Its unique color change and fluorescence are also caused by trace amounts of transitional or rare earth elements. There are two main directions for selecting fluorite for collection: one is choosing faceted gemstones, and the other is selecting phenomena stones such as fluorescence, phosphorescence, color change, etc. Fluorite plays a significant role in industries such as metallurgy, optics, and electronics, special lenses in laboratories are also made from fluorite, which have excellent dispersion resistance.

符山石

The Versatile Crystal Gemstone — Idocrase

Gemstones / By

Idocrase is a gemstone with a highly variable crystal form, resembling other minerals such as tourmaline, fluorite, zircon, and garnet. This resemblance led to its name “Idocrase,” meaning “mixed form” in Greek. Another name for the gemstone, Vesuvianite, comes from its discovery near Mount Vesuvius, Italy. Idocrase is quite durable and does not require special care, but it should be protected from prolonged exposure to sunlight (UV rays) to avoid fading.

Diopside

Gem in the Ceramics Industry—Diopside

Gemstones / By

Diopside possesses a high birefringence, so when viewed through its faceted surfaces, you can see a clear double image of the underlying facet edges. In the gemstone world, it is considered a relatively affordable green gemstone with a high cost-performance ratio. In industry, diopside is a commonly used raw material in ceramics, stabilizing the firing process and improving the quality of the ceramic products.

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