Sanxiang Technology: A new technology that enhances the toughness of saw blades

Abstract Many of the concepts behind toughening diamond saw blades are actually borrowed from the field of plastics. Core-shell particles, which are widely used in polymer modification, have also been applied to improve the toughness of plastic materials. Rohm & Haas has been a pioneer in this area, developing various types of core-shell particles with different core materials. In my original project, I sent them some samples, but there was an issue — the particle size was too large and not suitable for use in diamond blade adhesives. Germany has also made significant progress in core-shell particle research. They have developed micron-sized particles that can be used in diamond blade adhesives, significantly improving impact and peel strength. However, due to their larger size, when filled into the blade, it causes opaqueness, which is not acceptable for optical applications. Additionally, the procurement process in Germany takes a long time, so by the time we get the sample, the project is already behind schedule. The Olympics were even worse — everything was delayed. In China, many researchers are working on similar technologies. There are plenty of published papers, and our team even contacted a research institute directly. The expert said they could provide samples, but it would take at least two weeks just for testing. The lab wasn't even ready for pilot-scale production, and no quality assurance was guaranteed. It's frustrating when the boss wants efficiency, and as an R&D engineer, I can’t let such issues block the project. So, I decided to move forward with something better. I eventually found what I was looking for: nano-core-shell particles. These particles come in a wide variety of core structures, offering flexible design options. Their construction is similar to traditional core-shell particles, but instead of being emulsified, they are synthesized using a block structure. More importantly, the surface of these nanoparticles contains reactive groups that can chemically bond with the base resin through the action of the diamond blade curing agent. This prevents the core material from dissolving during the curing process, effectively toughening the blade. The toughening mechanism of core-shell particles involves a sea-island structure or a perforated morphology. When heated, the shell swells or dissolves, helping to absorb some of the exothermic heat from the curing agent. Moreover, because the particles are well dispersed in the resin, they help prevent other powder additives from settling when the resin is heated and thinned. For those interested, you can refer to literature on how particle size distribution affects filler precipitation. One of the biggest advantages of these nano-core-shell particles is that they are pre-dispersed, meaning we don’t have to worry about poor dispersion or instability. We can simply add them according to the desired ratio. Since they are nano-scale, the cured blade remains almost transparent (using ICAM 8403 as the curing agent and a polyamide adduct). This doesn’t affect the storage stability of one-component blades. With the dual toughening mechanisms, there’s almost no need to worry about the curing system, and the viscosity is low with a relatively high viscosity-temperature coefficient. Additionally, since these core-shell particles are nearly halogen-free, they are ideal for use in the microelectronics industry, where halogen content must be strictly controlled. If needed, they can easily be mixed with halogen-free resins. (Reprinted from Sanxiang Technology’s official website)