|
|
Abrasives
Home » Industrial Equipment » Industrial Equipment » AbrasivesAbrasive are materials that are made to smooth or roughen another material through extensive rubbing. The three main types of abrasives are bonded abrasives, coated abrasives, and grains or “loose” abrasives. Bonded abrasives are abrasive grains that are bound together by a bonding agent. Some examples of bonded abrasives are conventional grinding wheels, segments, mounted points, and honing stones. Coated abrasives are abrasives that are bonded to some type of paper or cloth. Some examples of coated abrasives are sandpaper belts, sheets, and discs. Loose abrasives are loose grains that are used for tumbling and blasting.
There are several different grains used in abrasives. Among the man-made grains are aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, zirconia aluminum, and ceramic aluminum oxide. Aluminum oxide is perhaps the toughest abrasive. It works well on high tensile materials such as carbon steel, alloy steel, and all ferrous materials. Silicon carbide is superior in speed of cutting, especially under high pressure. It works best for non-ferrous materials such as aluminum, brass, plastic, or fibrous wood. Zirconia aluminum is a long-lasting abrasive and offers faster grinding on materials such as cast iron or stainless steel. Ceramic aluminum oxide gives cooler cutting and longer life. It is appropriate for use with ferrous materials, carbon steel, and exotic alloys. There are also several natural abrasives: flint, emery, garnet, crocus, and chrome oxide.
When determining what type of abrasive to use for your project, there are several things to consider. First, you must determine what type of application you are doing. You may be trying to rough, grind, or polish. Next, determine what type of material you are using the abrasive on: ferrous or non-ferrous metal, hard or soft wood, glass, plastic, rubber etc. After you have determined this, decide what shape, size, and in what condition the finished item will be. It may be flat, contoured, heavy, etc. Next, decide what equipment is going to be used. Is it portable? What is the horsepower and amperage? Finally, identify the desired finish, whether it will be rough, blend, polish, satin, or high luster.
Related Industrial Equipment Articles
- Heat Exchangers Overview
- Hoists Overview
- Industrial Magnets Overview
- Industrial Ovens Overview
- Industrial Scales Overview
- Couplings Overview
- Cranes Overview
- Fasteners Overview
- Forklifts Overview
- Generators Overview
- Lifting Equipment
- Mining Equipment
- Packaging Equipment
- Rotational Molding
- Strapping Machines
- Industrial Equipment Overview
- Abrasives
- Boom Lifts
- Circuit Breakers
- Compressors