What Is the Difference Between Natural and Synthetic Abrasives?
Abrasives are hard materials used for grinding, polishing, and smoothing the surface of metal, glass, wood, and certain plastics. They can be natural or artificially made for use in automotive, aerospace, ceramics, and glass production.
Natural abrasives such as corundum, diamond, garnet, and emery occur within the earth’s crust, are mined, and require little to no processing.
Synthetic abrasives like silicon carbide and aluminum oxide are manufactured to enhance the performance and the capabilities of the materials for more specific applications.
Abrasives come in various forms depending on the application. Solid forms, such as grindstones, millstones, and whetstones, are used for heavy-duty grinding and sharpening. Powdered abrasives are graded into different grit sizes and applied to cloth, paper, or belts for sanding, polishing, and surface finishing. When these powders are bonded to a backing material, they are referred to as bonded or coated abrasives, commonly known as sandpaper.
Natural Abrasive Media
Natural abrasives are raw materials extracted from the earth’s crust, typically found in minerals and stones. These abrasives are widely used across commercial, technical, and domestic applications due to their availability and cost-effectiveness:
- Diamond: Natural diamonds possess excellent hardness and are the hardest known material, lasting the longest compared to other abrasive materials. They are used as core drilling bits, wire-drawing dies, rock and metal cutters, and kit grindstones.
- Corundum: Corundum abrasives are composed mostly of aluminum oxide and are known for their durability. They are effective for grinding and cutting applications in metalworking, grinding, finishing, and deburring.
- Garnet: Garnet refers to a group of silicate minerals with varying compositions. It is used in abrasive papers, grinding wheels, and waterjet cutting.
- Quartz: Quartz, also known as silica in its purest form, is the most commonly used abrasive in many industries. It can be used as blocks, sand, pumice, sandstone, chert, and quartzite.
- Emery: A naturally occurring mixture of corundum (aluminum oxide) and other minerals like magnetite and hematite. Emery is used in grinding, deburring, and lapping of optical lenses.
Natural abrasives are readily available, and in some cases, cost less to process than synthetic ones. However, they may lack the consistency and uniformity required for high-precision tasks.
Synthetic Abrasive Media: Engineered for Performance
Artificial abrasives are produced by refining raw materials and chemicals to create man-made or manufactured abrasive media. This process allows customization of the size, shape, and purity. Examples of synthetic abrasives include:
- Fused Aluminum oxide: One of the most widely used synthetic abrasives, aluminum oxide offers versatility for grinding wheels, abrasive papers, and polishing compounds.
- Silicon carbide: Silicon abrasives have high thermal conductivity and are used in grinding wheels, abrasive papers, and cutting discs. These abrasives are effective for high-speed grinding and cutting of brittle materials, such as glass and ceramics.
- Cubic boron nitride: Second only to diamond in hardness, cubic boron nitride is used for grinding hardened steels and other ferrous alloys.
- Carborundum: Carborundum is a composition of carbide and a mix of high-purity sand, sawdust, and coke, commonly referred to as Silicon carbide. Typical applications include abrasive papers and cloth, metal grinding wheels, and gear sharpening blocks.
- Synthetic diamond: Manufactured using high-pressure, high-temperature methods, synthetic diamond is used in cutting tools and polishing compounds for tough materials.
Artificial abrasives are engineered to meet specific performance requirements. They offer superior hardness and uniformity, making them ideal for demanding applications. However, their more expensive production process can have significant environmental impacts, including energy consumption and waste generation.
Natural vs. Synthetic Abrasives: Which Is Right for Your Project?
The choice between natural and synthetic abrasive media depends on the specific application and the desired outcome.
| Features | Natural Abrasives | Synthetic Abrasives |
| Hardness | Generally lower | Generally higher |
| Consistency | Variable | Consistent |
| Purity | May contain impurities | Higher purity |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Availability | Readily available | Manufactured |
| Control | Limited control over properties | Precise control over properties |
| Applications | Less demanding applications, like cleaning and polishing | Demanding applications, such as grinding hard materials |
Choosing the Right Abrasive Media With 10X Engineered Materials
The differences between natural and synthetic abrasives determine their suitability in various industries. Natural abrasives are ideal for general grinding and cutting, while synthetic abrasives are best for high-temperature and high-speed applications. When selecting between natural vs. synthetic abrasive media, consider the materials, desired finish, and equipment being used. Abrasives with a finer grit size achieve lower surface profile depths, while coarser grits are great for material removal and rough shaping. Grinding wheels are ideal for heavy-duty applications, while sanding belts and sandpapers offer flexibility for surface finishing and polishing.
Get the Perfect Finish With 10X Engineered Materials Abrasive Solutions
The choice between natural and synthetic abrasives depends on the task’s precision, speed, and consistency requirements. Contact 10X Engineered Materials for expert advice on abrasive media selection for blasting and to learn more about our precision-engineered and manufactured abrasive blasting materials.