Here are some answers to common queries about the differences between Mono-crystalline and Poly-crystalline synthetic diamonds and emulsions containing these two different abrasives, specifically surrounding the context of stropping.
Please remember that this information is not intended for every heavy industrial or high-pressure tooling application these particular diamonds may be found in, where they both have the potential to behave very differently.
Mono-crystalline synthetic diamonds are made in two ways: a High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) process and a Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) process. They’re known to be practically defect-free and are single-crystal structures more likely to resemble naturally occurring, non-synthetic diamonds, which is one of the reasons they are so popular.
Mono-crystalline’s single-crystal structure makes them larger with much more predictable, defined fracturing planes and they are noticeably longer-lasting. Having naturally occurring cleavage planes in their crystal structure allows them to chip in a controlled way along these fracturing planes, breaking up during the course of normal use.
This micro-chipping renews the abrasive function of the diamond’s sharp, defined cutting edges, refreshing them so they act like new diamonds and quickly remove steel while still maintaining consistency in size to their specified micron rating.
Due to this process they are known to have excellent cutting performance, giving your blade’s edge the ability to get, and hold, its crisp bite for a long time. They are especially good at producing a more toothy, clean, linear micro-scratch pattern on your bevel, creating a competently refined, thinned-out apex with a magnificent mirror polish and bite.
Mono-crystalline diamonds aren’t just found in high-quality stropping emulsions. They are also commonly used as the sole abrasive on most diamond sharpening stones produced by many of today’s top-tier manufacturers due to their cutting longevity and overall performance.
Poly-crystalline synthetic diamonds are manufactured solely in laboratories the world over, meaning there is no shortage of abundance, though their more costly to produce when compared with Mono-crystalline diamonds and for that reason they are comparatively less common.
These diamonds are characterised by clusters of countless noticeably small diamonds bonded together to form complex, random shapes and cutting edges and fracturing planes, imagine something similar to tiny fragments of shattered safety glass.
They’re known to cut fairly aggressively due to their inherent extreme hardness. Their multi-faceted structure means they have multiple cutting edges that are multi-directional, allowing a single diamond particle to bite into the bevel multiple times during a single pass. The downside is a less refined stropped edge that may produce somewhat unpredictable results.
In theory, these harder bonded diamond facets are more friable, able to break apart over time into new, cutting abrasive particles. These renewed edges produce irregularly shaped, finer diamonds.
In practice, however, they are extremely tough – too hard-wearing to fracture with any significance under the pressure applied by almost all of todays stropping methods.
Due to their hard, small, wear-resistant particles they provide a softer progression and leave a pronounced, smooth and crisp bevel. Though After somewhat mild use, their small size means material is lost dislodging as the fine fragments become “loose” from the strops surface.
It must be noted that they also produce an extraordinary crisp and polished edge.
These diamonds can also be found in applications such as stone masonry, jewellery manufacturing and associated tooling, where high hardness and wear resistance are preferred.
There is no doubt these two synthetic diamonds represent the pinnacle of micron abrasives used for stropping. Both are capable of producing exceptionally refined edges with highly polished apexes.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to your budget and personal preference. Mono-crystalline diamonds provide fast, clean-cutting particles that create a refined progression, linear scratch pattern, crisp bite and remarkable mirror finish.
Poly-crystalline diamonds offer smaller, harder, wear-resistant particles that are gentler on your edge, producing a softer progression, a multi-directional striation scratch pattern and exceptionally polished, smooth, crisp bevels.
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