The abrasive material is a substance that has the capability of cleaning rough surfaces through the process of rubbing or grinding and also polishing surfaces. Mostly the piece of material is always mineral that shapes the surface by wearing out parts of the workpiece from the surface through fiction brought about by rubbing. In other words, abrasive materials are the ceramics used to grind, cut, or polish surfaces to make them smooth, reflective, or even beaded finishes.
Abrasives are used in different fields such as technological applications, industries, and domestic purposes. Due to this diverse use of abrasives, there is great variation in their composition in terms of physical and chemical together with their various shapes. Abrasives can be used for several services such as cutting, drilling, buffing, sanding, grinding, and polishing. In this article, we are going to look at the mechanism of abrasion of various minerals and review them intensively, and later on identify the recommended mineral for use.
THE MECHANISM OF ABRASION
Abrasion, more often, depends on the hardness of both the abrasive and the substance being worked on. The abrasive is recommended to be harder than the workpiece. However, it is not guaranteed that the abrasive should at all times be harder than the substance or workpiece”. Calcium carbonate used as a polishing agent in toothpaste”. Using the Mohs scale of minerals hardiness, abrasive materials are rated on a scale of 7 and above. Influential abrasion works upon more contact force applied to the difference in hardness between the abrasive and the substance, large grit size, which cuts faster and deeper, and lastly, use of lubricant.
ABRASIVE MINERALS
The minerals can either be naturally occurring or artificial. Natural abrasive minerals are mainly used for sharpening. Natural minerals were earlier considered superior, but advanced technology has brought more minor distinctions. Examples of naturally occurring minerals are sandstone, diamond, pumice, and calcium carbonate, while artificial abrasives are; glass powder, silicon carbide, steel abrasive, and ceramic aluminum oxide.
The artificial abrasive is further classified into bonded and coated abrasive.
A bonded abrasive
They are made of abrasive material (aluminum oxide) contained inside the matrix. The matrix is also referred to as a binder made of clay, resin, rubber, and glass. The mixture of binder and abrasive is modeled into sticks, blocks, or wheels. They are available as a two-sided block. Each side has a different grade of grit size. The bonded abrasive can be used in metalworking for sharpening, drilling, and grinding. The use of a lubricant reduces frictional heat between the abrasive and the workpiece. Examples of bonded abrasives are grinding and synthetic sharpening stones.
Coated abrasive
A coated abrasive material consists of an abrasive and a coating material like rubber, cloth, polyester, or even flexible metal. Coated abrasives mostly use the minerals also used in bonded abrasives. The coating material is usually a resin or adhesive to provide a flat surface for the grit to adhere to.
Types of abrasive materials
Cut off wheels abrasive
These abrasive can also be known as self-sharpening or parting wheels. Abrasives are used on materials such as metal, concrete or stone, concrete, or stone. It is available in different sizes, shapes, types, and grit numbers. One can choose the best abrasive depending on the nature of the workpiece. Cut-off wheels are used for repair, maintenance, and fabrication.
Sandpapers sheets
It is also referred to as glass paper. It is used to make surfaces smooth for either varnishing or painting. It has the capability of taking out paints and old glues. Sandpapers can be used for power sanding and hand sanding. An example of sandpaper is Aluminum oxide.
Grinding Wheels
This is a wheel comprised of abrasive compounds and other materials. It is mainly used for grinding, abrasive machining operations, and cutting. Its construction is designed for grinding machines. Grinding is available in different types: a straight wheel, cylinder ring, and taped type.
Polishing pads
The abrasives are used to remove dents from cars and also small scratches. It buffs out the minor damage making the surface shiny. It is also available in different sizes and shapes. The main aim of using polishing compounds is to achieve a desirable layout.
Flap discs
It is a plate-like disc used in welding, machining, industrial maintenance, and metal finishing. It consists of overlapping flaps bonded to a central hub. It also comes in different sizes and shapes, flap density, and flap grit sizes.
In conclusion, the information above clearly depicts the significance of abrasive materials. One of the highly recommended abrasives is the bonded abrasives. Some of its unique qualities are; that it can serve various purposes like sharpening knives, and cutting a brass mirror. It can be used together with a lubricant, reducing friction heat. It is also used in metal-work drilling.
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