Silicon Carbide Vs Aluminum Oxide

Silicon carbide features sharper and harder abrasive grains than aluminum oxide, while remaining less durable. It cuts easily through glass, plastics, medium density fiberboard and metals but may struggle with hard woods or high tensile strength materials.

Aluminum oxide abrasives can be found on sandpaper, grinding wheels and discs for use in automotive applications, to polish parts in automotive assemblies or remove rust while deburring metal surfaces and smoothing glass edges.

Hardness

Silicon carbide (also referred to as corundum) is one of the hardest abrasive grains available, boasting a hardness rating of 9. On Mohs scale it falls between talc and diamond in terms of hardness. Silicon carbide’s razor-sharp edges make it suitable for cutting glass, plastic, ceramics, bare metal, paint and more materials with ease.

Sandpaper made of silicon carbide is ideal for wet sanding applications as it resists clogging more effectively than aluminum oxide. Furthermore, silicon carbide grit is often chosen when polishing metal surfaces as well as for rough surfaces like metal, rust removal or wood refinishing projects.

Aluminum oxide, more commonly referred to as alumina, wears down more quickly than silicon carbide and therefore lends itself more towards low pressure applications like hand sheets and orbital discs, though harder grains such as zirconia alumina or ceramic alumina may be added for less expensive products. White and pink aluminum oxide abrasives with coarse to fine textures more closely resemble silicon carbide than brown alumina and so break down faster while providing smoother finishes than their brown counterpart.

Resilience

Silicon carbide is an abrasive material renowned for its hardness, chemical stability and non-contaminating nature. Furthermore, it has a high melting point which makes it suitable for a range of applications including abrasives, power electronics and refractory materials.

Aluminum oxide is a soft, less durable abrasive that works effectively on certain metals such as aluminum. Available from coarse to fine textures and creating minimal heat during grinding operations.

Aluminum oxide and silicon carbide media is often combined for various reasons. For instance, grinding low-tensile strength metal like aluminum requires hard abrasives without producing too much heat; white and brown aluminum oxide work well here as their razor-sharp grains offer precise grinding without producing excessive heat; similarly the blocky and resilient nature of the aluminum oxide grit makes blast tumbling systems use both forms of media together for maximum effectiveness.

Heat Resistance

Silicon carbide is highly heat resistant and retains its abrasive qualities even at elevated temperatures, making it the ideal material for use in refractory and ceramic materials as well as semiconductor fabrication processes.

Razor-sharp grains of this saw can easily cut through glass, plastic, marble, cork and medium-density fiberboard with moderate pressure. Unfortunately, their narrow shape wears away quickly when used on metals or harder woods.

Aluminum oxide is an exceptionally resilient abrasive that can stand up to higher temperatures created by intense sanding tasks without suffering irreparable degradation. Furthermore, its balance between cutting speed and finish quality provides optimal sanding solutions for woodworking projects featuring intricate details or curves.

Chemical Stability

Silicon carbide boasts superior chemical stability when compared to aluminum oxide, making it an excellent choice for blasting harsh chemicals in volatile environments while remaining safe to use and resisting clogging.

Silicon Carbide’s razor-sharp grains cut glass, plastic and medium-density fiberboard easily with light pressure. More durable than aluminum oxide abrasives but wearing down more quickly due to brittle edges that wear down more rapidly.

Friable black silicon carbide is an excellent way to sand down rough materials or surfaces and polish them to a smooth finish, as well as remove rust, deburr metal components, refinish wood flooring or between coats of paint in woodworking projects. It is particularly suited for smoothening edges.