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Printable PCBN Brochure in PDF Format


PCBN - Polycrystalline Cubic Boron Nitride

Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) tool materials represent a revolutionary advancement in cutting tool technology. For the manufacturer, the benefits are: increased productivity, longer tool life, better surface finish, and the ability to hold closer tolerances. 

PCBN is used for machining a wide variety of ferrous materials. PCBN provides increased productivity and cost savings over conventional tungsten carbide and ceramic tools. In many cases PCBN tools make it possible to machine materials where conventional tools have failed.

PCBN products from MegaDiamond are available in large full-round blanks. MegaDiamond also offers pre-cut pieces to exact customer specifications. 


Typical PCBN Applications

Typical materials machined with PCBN include:
  • Nickel and cobalt based super alloys, such as Inconel, Monel, Hastalloy, Rene, Incoloy, and Waspaoly
  • Sprayed hard facings, such as Colmonoy, Stellite, and Wallex
  • Carbon steels, such as 1045, 1050, and 1055
  • Hardened alloy steels, such as 52100
  • Hardened tool steels, such as D2, D4, D5, M2, M3, O2, A2, and S5
  • Gray cast irons, Ni-Hard, and nodular and chilled (white) cast irons
PCBN tools are typically most effective for alloy steels hardened to a minimum  of 45 HRC. Although there are exceptions to this rule, it is important to note that the material being machined does not meet the required hardness, the PCBN tool life may be effected.

MegaDiamond's technical staff is available to advise customers on the suitability of PCBN tools for specific materials and applications.


PCBN Technology

After diamond, cubic boron nitride (cBN) is the second hardest material known and like diamond has extremely high resistance to abrasive wear. cBN does not occur naturally, but is synthesized under ultra-high pressure and high temperature by converting hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) to a cubic crystal structure with a strong tetrahedral core similar to diamond.

Unlike diamond, cBN is not highly soluable in iron; therefore, cutting tool materials produced from cBN are especially suitable for machining ferrous materials. cBN also has higher thermal and chemical stability than diamond at elevated temperatures. 

By applying ultra-high pressure and high temperatures to a combination of cBN powders with added metallic and/or ceramic second phase materials, MegaDiamond produces a variety of Polycrystalline Cubic Boron Nitride (PCBN) grades with distinct properties. Each grade is specifically engineered to meet the demands of particular machining applications.

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