How is coated abrasive manufactured?
Coated abrasives give users the best value and results for finishing the surfaces of a wide variety of materials. They consist of a backing (typically paper, cloth, fibre or film) to which abrasive grains are bonded. The choice of abrasives used depends on the work piece properties and type of treatment and ranges from garnet, emery, silicon carbide to various forms of aluminium oxide, zirconia alumina and ceramic aluminium oxide. Coated abrasives are made in a continuous process on production lines known as ‘makers’, which can be up to 300 metres long. The abrasive grains are applied by an electrostatic process. These can be natural or synthetic minerals, such as silicon carbide or a variety of aluminium oxide, according to the use of the abrasives. A second layer of adhesive bond, called the size coat, is applied to anchor the abrasive grains securely. The abrasive is cured in a drying chamber and passed to the end of the production line where it is wound into jumbo rolls weighing up
