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Coated Abrasives: Types, Components, and Uses

December 23, 2020

Coated Abrasives: Types, Components, & Uses

Coated Abrasives Types

Coated abrasive is produced by bonding abrasive grains to backing material or flexible substrate using adhesives. Paper, fabric, vulcanized fiber, and plastic films are widely used as a backing material.

What is Coated Abrasive?

A coated abrasive is an abrasive tool made up of a thin film of abrasive grain attached to a substrate such as paper, fabric, etc. Coated abrasives develop in various shapes such as sheets, discs, rolls, specialties, or belts.

“Coated abrasives are sometimes referred to as "sandpaper," but they are not made with sand and are not backed by paper.“

Applications of Coated Abrasive

In today’s markets such as furniture, lumber, cabinet, boat, automobile, welding, foundry, jewelry, and do-it-yourself markets, The coated abrasives are produced in "jumbo" rolls and then cut into various shapes such as belts, discs, rolls, and sheets for surface treatment and polishing applications.

Sanding rolls and sanding belts, typically for non-precision operation, are commonly coated abrasives for physical applications. These two styles are known as symbolic coated abrasives by the general public.

Other coated abrasives include sanding sheets, sanding disc, flap discs, flap wheels, cross pads, deburring wheels, and many more.

Components of Coated Abrasives

Let’s know each component of coated abrasive in details:

What are the different types of backings used in coated abrasives?

Below are the four significant types of backing materials:

Paper

For coated abrasives, highly technical papers are used as substrates. The letters reflecting weight and versatility define them: "A and "B" weights are lightweight and extremely flexible. "C,” "D,” "E,” "F" weights with more strength and less versatility are medium to heavyweight.

Cloth

Cloth backings are more reliable than paper backings. Cotton, polyester, and polyester-cotton combinations are significant types of cloth backings. Weight and versatility determine cloth backings. Cloth backing is ideal for applications of heavy-duty grinding and deburring. It provides excellent stability on edge.

Fiber

A rigid vulcanized material made from rag stock is fiber backing. For abrasive fiber discs, this backing is commonly used. The mixture’s backing is laminated paper and fabric and is very solid and resistant to shock. For a wide variety of grits and mounting methods, combination backings are usually used.

Other Backing Materials

There is also a range of different substrates coated for particular uses, such as nylon fiber or screens. Another substrate that can be used for drying, polishing, or mixing is non-woven nylon impregnated with abrasive grains.

Types of Coated Abrasives

Below are some of the standard options that you will find for coated abrasives:

Cartridge Rolls
Cross Pads
Deburring Wheels
Flap Discs
Flap Wheels
Sanding Belts
Surface Conditioning

Know More About: Types of Coated Abrasives

Storage and Handling of Coated Abrasives

Abrasives performance can be affected by improper storage of coated abrasives. Both types of backings are subject to temperature and humidity fluctuations during storage:

Keep the storage area at steady humidity (35-50 percent) and temperature (60-80 °F) levels.
Keep cartons away from damp or cold walls and floors where moisture can be absorbed.
Store coated abrasives away from any source of heat.
Fiber discs withdrawn from the original packaging should be placed in an appropriate disc holder and held under pressure.
On shelves or pallets, shop bulk rolls flat, not on the side.
Belts removed from the packing case should be rolled up and on a clean shelf standing on the edge. They can be drawn over a vast cylinder, but a belt can never be suspended from a nail or peg (the backing will crease, and the abrasive coat will crack)
It is preconditioning for optimum performance of the coated abrasive products in humidity and temperature-controlled setting before to use.