Except for small cuts made in marble quarries, all other applications of diamond wires use beads with diamond concretions. For granite quarries, the cables are in general fitted by injection of a vulcanised rubber, whereas cable used in granite and marble sawing works are more often injected with plastic. The more difficult to implement is the rubber injection which is preferred for cables used in granite quarries, for the following reasons:

  • The vulcanised rubber adheres better to the beads and support cable, which protects it better from the action of abrasive pastes, in particular when the cable takes up small radii of curvature (beginning and end of quarry cuts).
  • The vulcanised rubber easily withstands increases in temperature caused by badly controlled water spraying, which often happens in a quarry, whereas plastic softens and looses its strength properties.
  • The flexibility of a cable fitted with rubber is greater, which reduces the risk of irregular wearing of the beads (ovalisation phenomenon).