Difference between PCD Tools and CBN Tools

Part 1 Composition of PCD (Polycrystalline Diamond)
Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD) is a synthetic diamond product that is sintering together selected diamond particles with a special technology. It is composed by the diamond and matrix, we put the pcd diamond layer on the tungsten carbide substrate, which will offer better performance than other carbide insert and ceramic cutters. And In some certain application, PCD Tools Life will be 50~10 times of carbide cutting tools. Also PCD Tipped Cutters will have similar advantages with natural diamond in some industry.
The advantages of PCD (Polycrystalline Diamond)
(1) Shock Resistance
(2) Consistence
(3) Availability
(4) Flexibility
(5) Lower Costs
And PCD Tools (Polycrystalline Diamond) can be used in wide range operations, such as milling, grooving, turning, facing and boring, ect. The following will recommend some common application field:
(1) Aluminum and aluminum alloys
(2) Copper, Brass and bronze alloys
(3) Gold, Silver, Tungsten Carbide and others.
(4) Carbon and Graphite Ceramics
They also can be used many other fields. And the cutting speed also can be made wide range.
Part 2 Composition of CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride)
Cubic boron nitride (CBN) is a kind synthesized material exceeded in hardness only second to diamond. Unlike diamond, however, CBN is more suitable for high temperature with dry cutting condition when machining hardened ferrous metals. Both CBN and PCD are available a large variety of shapes and sizes. Also different companies can research different composite for different application. CBN tools are also being used to turn, bore and face hard materials, which previously could be formed only by grinding. It realized turning instead of grinding. With CBN inserts, it solved so many difficult problems that met in past times. Common Field that CBN Tools used for as follows:
(1) Alloy steels , Carbon tool steels, Die steel, High speed steel, Forged Steel(45-68 RC)
(2) Cast Iron, Hi Cr Cast Iron, Chilled Cast Iron, Grey Cast Iron, ect.
Part 3 Conclusion
Both Diamond Tools (PCD Tools) and CBN Tools have their own application range and advantages, before we choose the cutting tools, we need to consult the engineer. And they will give you advices and make solutions for you.