CORUNDUM
In industrial applications it is often used in the form of abrasive powder - sand, grinding wheels, grinding stones or abrasive belts. Corundum is used, for example, in the processing of metals, wood, plastics, glass or ceramics.
Its hardness and durability make it a very effective tool for material removal and surface finishing. It is suitable for blasting in closed systems and sandblasting boxes (blast chambers).
In practice we usually encounter 2 types of corundum, brown and white, at first sight it may seem that these 2 types differ only in colour, but the opposite is true.
So What Are the Differences between Brown and White Corundum?
The main difference between brown and white corundum lies in their structure and properties:
Colour
The brown colour of brown corundum is due to the presence of iron in its crystal structure.The AI2O3 content is at least 95%.
White corundum is purer and no longer contains iron, which gives it its typical white colour. The AI2O3 content is more than 99%.
Hardness
In general, both types of corundum are very hard materials, but white corundum is usually slightly harder (9.2 Mohs) than brown corundum (9 Mohs).
However, the disadvantage of white corundum compared to brown corundum is that it wears out faster during blasting.
Use
Brown corundum is usually more suitable for coarser material removal, such as when grinding or blasting steel, iron, ceramics, stone, or glass.
White corundum is often used for fine blasting, polishing, and cutting of materials, especially when precision and high surface quality must be maintained, such as when blasting glass, ceramics, stainless steel, or steel.
Price
Brown corundum is supplied as graded or mixed. The mix is produced as a secondary product of diamond tool manufacturing and is usually more cost friendly than graded. White corundum is still often slightly more expensive than brown corundum due to its properties.
However, both types of corundum are very useful and popular in practice for various industrial applications, whether sandblasting, polishing, grinding or cutting in the form of corundum cutting wheels.
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Article written by
Martin Valášek
Flat glass, Paints, UV adhesives, Technical support,
Customer service, Blasting systems
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