EN
cn 
ja 
ko 
de 
es 
it 
vi 
th 
ms 
id 
Address:
155 Suhong East Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Jiangsu Province, China 
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Stainless steel precision parts, especially those used in 3C electronics and automotive applications, face stringent surface quality requirements. Research indicates that the finishing quality of base metal components directly influences the quality, lifespan, and reliability of major equipment and core products. However, the surface finishing of these metal parts presents numerous challenges, including high surface hardness, difficulties in bulk processing, long processing times, complex procedures, severe chemical pollution, and the risks of metal dust explosions.
For instance, in the 3C sector, stainless steel casings and internal components of digital products like smartphones and laptops must achieve a mirror-like luster while maintaining precise dimensional tolerances, often within ±0.05 millimeters. In automotive engine systems, stainless steel parts must ensure a surface roughness (Ra) below 0.4 microns without micro-scratches or damage, which could serve as initiation points for fatigue cracks.
In response to these challenges, the global manufacturing industry is continuously exploring more efficient, precise, and environmentally friendly polishing solutions, with alumina abrasives emerging as a critical material in the field of precision polishing.
Alumina, a common abrasive, has been used in metal polishing for decades. However, traditional alumina abrasives often had irregular particle shapes and uneven size distributions, leading to micro-scratches on workpieces and failing to meet today's high standards for precision parts. The advent of spherical alumina powders has revolutionized this landscape.
Spherical alumina features uniform particle distribution, consistent morphology, and excellent dispersibility. Its smooth, angular-free particles effectively prevent micro-scratches on workpiece surfaces, significantly enhancing the polished surface's quality. For stainless steel precision parts, this means achieving a higher-quality mirror finish without compromising shape accuracy.
A research team from Jiangnan University discovered that controlling the micro-contact behavior between abrasives and substrates is key to achieving high-precision polishing. They developed a dust-free precision finishing equipment that avoids the risk of metal dust explosions by establishing an elastic-plastic contact model between abrasives and workpieces. This research provides a theoretical basis for the application of alumina abrasives in stainless steel precision polishing.
The performance of alumina abrasives depends on various factors, including purity, particle size, and morphology. Among these, particle size and distribution are crucial parameters influencing polishing effectiveness.
Studies have shown that the primary particle size of α-alumina powder directly correlates with surface polishing outcomes. Fine, uniform particles not only facilitate excellent surface quality but also exhibit a stronger volume effect, making them less prone to crushing during polishing, which can produce sharp secondary particles that damage workpiece surfaces.
Currently, high-end alumina polishing powders have transitioned from micrometer to nanometer scales. For example, spherical alumina powders with particle sizes ranging from 300 nanometers to 120 micrometers are now available on the market. This gradient selection allows engineers to choose the appropriate abrasive size for different polishing stages—from rough to fine polishing—gradually refining surface marks to ultimately achieve a mirror quality with Ra of 0.02 microns.
In addition to optimizing physical characteristics, the development of high-purity alumina has opened new possibilities for precision polishing. In 2023, a company announced advancements in the preparation of high-quality 5N ultra-pure alumina with a purity of 99.999%, allowing its products to match similar imported offerings.
This high-purity alumina abrasive minimizes impurity contamination during polishing, making it particularly suitable for stainless steel precision parts in the 3C electronics and automotive sectors, where cleanliness is paramount.
In the 3C industry, polishing stainless steel precision parts faces challenges in both efficiency and quality. For example, the traditional mechanical polishing of stainless steel smartphone casings requires five minutes to achieve the desired smoothness, while advanced polishing techniques utilizing alumina abrasives can reduce this time to just one minute—a nearly fourfold increase in efficiency.
This enhancement not only lowers production costs but also aligns with the fast-paced iterations of 3C products.
In the automotive sector, the polishing requirements for stainless steel precision parts are even more stringent. Automotive power system components must maintain long-term stability under complex conditions, with surface quality directly affecting overall vehicle performance and reliability.
The polishing technology developed by Jiangnan University does not contain phosphorus, heavy metals, or other toxic elements, and has a pH value close to neutral. It can complete cleaning, degreasing, descaling, rust removal, and polishing in a single process, achieving batch processing with significant environmental benefits.
This green characteristic makes aluminum oxide abrasives more competitive in modern manufacturing and aligns with the global trend of sustainable development.
As the development of 3C products and automotive technology continues, the demands for polishing technology for stainless steel precision parts will increasingly rise. The future development of aluminum oxide abrasives will present the following trends:
Extreme Particle Size: With advancements in high-end fields such as semiconductors and optical devices, the size requirements for aluminum oxide abrasives will become smaller, with nano-sized and even sub-nano-sized aluminum oxide abrasives becoming research hotspots.
Precise Morphology Control: In addition to spherical aluminum oxide, different shapes of aluminum oxide particles (such as flaky, fibrous, etc.) will also be developed to meet the needs of various application scenarios.
Diversification of Functions: Aluminum oxide abrasives will no longer only serve a grinding purpose but will also be combined with chemical mechanical polishing technology to achieve a synergistic effect of grinding and chemical action.
Intelligent Applications: By integrating with intelligent equipment, precise control and real-time monitoring of the polishing process will be realized, enhancing the consistency and stability of polishing quality.
In the mirror-like world of stainless steel precision parts, aluminum oxide abrasives, though seemingly insignificant, play an indispensable role. From smartphones to automotive engines, from microscopic structures to macroscopic equipment, aluminum oxide abrasives quietly support the high-quality development of modern manufacturing with their unique value.
As an industry expert once said, “Beneath the mirror surface lies the diligent cooperation of countless fine abrasives.” On the path to perfection, the innovation of aluminum oxide abrasives is endless, reflecting the technological advancement of the manufacturing industry.
As deep cultivators in the aluminum oxide abrasives industry, we firmly believe that only by mastering core technology can we achieve the most perfect surfaces in the world.
