Using Diamond Particles

Diamonds are not just for beautiful women.  In fact I don’t think we would win favors if we were to give a lady a handful of the kind of diamonds I am thinking about.  She might think you were giving her a handful of grey ash from the wood stove. Further, if she sneezed she would cost you at least fifty bux.  Not good!
Of course I am talking about micro and even nanoscopic polycrystalline diamond particles which in pure form resemble a very dry grey powder.  This powder is used by various industries for cutting, grinding, polishing, and even superpolishing.  We are interested in the very last application.
There are several ways these little particles are used.  First they are put into different thick carriers to create custom compounds which are color coded to indicate average micron size and rated light, medium, or heavy.  These different weights have different prices.  Heavy being the most expensive.  Another way to use diamond powder is to create what is called a colloidal suspension.  This is like an extremely light compound made up mostly of water or some type of oil or hydrocarbon fluid with a detergent added to improve the suspension. Another use is to load different materials such as soft rubber-like polymers, or even different metals.  Another little trick involves binding particles with a glue to the surface of metals and plastic films.  One such application involves coating a 3 mil thick sheet of polyester film with different sized diamond particles making it possible to polish surfaces with just water.
The Diamond Clear Restoration System includes the use of all these applications.  It will grow over time as the technology for implementing the different applications becomes more varied and refined.

I have several reasons for attempting to go “all diamond”.  First I have had great success using diamond. Second it simply makes sense to me.  This is a particle that is so much harder than glass. It is also known to cut glass with ease.  Which is what polishing is all about.  Even superpolishing. Also the technology for creating nanoscopic diamonds is now quite common.  Brand new glass straight off the tin bath will have surface micropores about five microns across.  You could string fifty diamond particles (each being one hundred nanometers in size) from one side of a micropore to the other.
You will have difficulty eliminating abrasion haze if you use a three micron diamond particle.  Also a half micron diamond colloid will not effectively remove such a haze once formed. Further even though a half micron nano diamond will not leave a haze it is rather ineffective at removing stains.  From these simple facts it appears obvious that very specific techniques are required in using diamond to remove stains from glass.  This will be the subject of future research and product development. Which you will discover here first.  But only if you put your email address in the box to the right "Follow By Email".   

Written by Henry Grover Jr.

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Abrasion Haze

It is very important when removing hard water deposits from window glass to watch for abrasion haze.  This is the result of either the wrong polishing technique or the use of the wrong polishing medium, or both.  I have seen it so bad it was easily seen even on a cloudy day.  Although it is usually only visible in the direct sun.  Sometimes only at the right angle in the direct sun.  Second story windows are more likely to show it up.  It appears as many waves of zillions of microscopic scratches.  In any case however it is grounds for a lawsuit if the customer sees it.

The best way to avoid it is to always use any pad or polishing surface completely flat on the glass.  My new Gyro Wheel makes this very easy.  Next make sure your superabrasives are indeed opticaly safe.  One way to do this is to experiment with your "complete system" on a new mirror blank.  Then hit one half of the area polished with a solution of battery acid.  This is around a 37% solution of sulfuric acid.  You could also use a 1 to 2 percent solution of hydrofluoric acid.  These acids will greatly accent any scratches left behind by your polishing process.  The side of the polished area of the glass which has not been touched will serve as your control.  If you see any abrasion haze I personally would not use that system but rather look for another.

Another way to make absolutely sure you are safe after performing the mirror test is to do an on site test.  Do it on a bright sunny day.  If you are intending on doing second story windows wait until around two to three in the afternoon.  Then clear the stains off a two by two foot section of the window. Stand back about fifty to a hundred feet and look real close.  You shouldn't see any waves.

The greatest haze is usually caused by using circular pads turned on edge (ripping the surface).  Companies will do this using cerium oxide straight out of open containers.  By first wetting the window, touching the edge of the wet felt pad to the dry powder, then running the edge of the pad across the window.  This technique even if the cerium oxide is optical grade, will create severe abrasion haze.  Which can easily be completely invisible except in the direct sun.

I have many reasons why I would never suggest using acids that etch glass like hydrofluoric, sulfuric, or ammonium bifluoride. One of which is the fact that once someone has left an abrasion haze by ripping the glass, such damage can be greatly accented by the acid.  As I have shown by the first test sited.  Further, you will never know if such damage is present because it has been hid/covered over by new hard water deposits.  The customer might never have even noticed it when the stains were removed the first time with the cerium.  But now this damage is very visible.  The customer will then be able to easily see it. And you will be held accountable for "scratching" the windows.

Written by Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

If you would like these posts to come in your inbox just put your email in the box to the right "Follow by Email".

For product sales henrygroverjr@gmail.com