| Diamond blade performance part 1 Factors involving concrete When saw cutting concrete, several factors influence your choice of diamond blades. These include
Concrete slabs may vary greatly in compressive strength, measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). Most concrete roads are 4,000 - 6,000 PSI, while typical patios or sidewalks are about 3,000 PSI The size of the aggregate affects diamond blade performance. Large aggregates tend to make a diamond blade cut slower. Smaller aggregates tend to make a blade cut faster. The most common size of aggregates are
There are many different types of rock used as aggregate. Hardness often varies even within the same classification of rock. For example, granite varies in hardness and friability. The mohs scale is frequently used to measure hardness. Values of hardness are assigned from one to ten. A substance with a higher Mohs number scratches a substance with a lower number - higher Mohs scale numbers indicate harder materials. The scale below shows the Mohs' scale range. Aggregate hardness is one important factor when cutting concrete. Because hard aggregate dulls diamond grit more quickly, segment bonds generally need to be softer when cutting hard aggregate. This allows the segment to wear normally and bring new, sharp diamond grit to the surface. Softer aggregate will not dull diamond grit as quickly, so harder segment bonds are needed to hold the diamonds in place long enough to use their full potential. Most aggregates fall into the 2 - 9 range on the Mohs scale. Some commonly used aggregates measure this way on the Mohs' scale. Mohs Hardness Scale |
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