Methods and Tool for Maintenance of Hard Surfaces, and a Method for Manufacturing Such a Tool

Abstract

A method is disclosed for treating or maintaining a hard surface comprising a stone or stone-like material, the method comprising treatment of the surface with a flexible pad, in the presence of abrasive particles, bonded to the pad, on a contact surface between the pad and the hard surface, wherein the abrasive particles comprise diamond particles, and the treatment is performed in the absence of an effective amount of crystallization agent on the contact surface. The treatment is performed on a substantially regular basis, such as daily, weekly or monthly, and the treatment is performed using a pad comprising an open, lofty, three dimensional non-woven webs of fibers. A tool for use in the method is also provided, as well as a floor-surfacing machine comprising such a tool and a method for manufacturing such a tool. Furthermore, methods for treating or maintaining hard, smooth surfaces such as wood, polymer material, lacquer, linoleum, gelcoat, glass and automotive enamel are disclosed.

1 . A method for maintaining a hard, smooth surface, the surface comprising a material selected from a group consisting of wood, polymer material, lacquer and linoleum, the method comprising treatment of the surface with a flexible pad, in the presence of abrasive particles, bonded to the pad, on a contact surface between the pad and the hard surface, wherein the abrasive particles comprise diamond particles, and wherein the treatment is performed using a pad comprising an open, lofty, three dimensional non-woven web of fibers. 
   
   
       2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treatment is performed substantially in the absence of liquid on the contact surface. 
   
   
       3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treatment is performed in the presence of water on the contact surface. 
   
   
       4 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the treatment is performed in the presence of water and a cleaning agent on the contact surface. 
   
   
       5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treatment is performed using a pad  4  having abrasive particles bonded to it by means of a secondary binder. 
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treatment is performed using a pad having abrasive particles bonded to it only in the vicinity of the contact surface. 
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treatment is performed using a pad having diamond particles of an average diameter of 0.1 to 30 μm, preferably between 0.1 and 15 μm and most preferably between 3 and 15 μm. 
   
   
       8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treatment is performed using a pad ( 1 ) having diamond particles comprising at least one of natural diamond particles, industrial diamond particles and coated diamond particles. 
   
   
       9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the wherein the treatment is performed using a pad having a density of less than 40 kg/m 3 , preferably 20-35 kg/m 3 . 
   
   
       10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hard, smooth surface is a floor surface. 
   
   
       11 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pad, while in contact with the hard surface, is caused to move in relation to the hard surface. 
   
   
       12 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pad, while in contact with the hard surface, is caused to rotate at a rotational speed of 50-3000 rpm, preferably of 100-1500 rpm. 
   
   
       13 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a polymer material, and wherein the treatment is performed using a pad having diamond particles of an average diameter of between 0.1 and 15 μm and most preferably between 3 and 12 μm. 
   
   
       14 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises linoleum, and wherein the treatment is performed using a pad having diamond particles of an average diameter of between 0.1 and 15 μm, preferably between 3 and 12 μm and most preferably between 3 and 6 μm. 
   
   
       15 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the surface comprises wood, and wherein the treatment is performed using a pad having diamond particles of an average diameter of between 0.1 and 15 μm, preferably between 3 and 12 μm and most preferably between 3 and 6 μm. 
   
   
       16 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises lacquer, and wherein the treatment is performed using a pad having diamond particles of an average diameter of between 0.1 and 15 μm, preferably between 2 and 12 μm and most preferably between 24 and 6 μm. 
   
   
       17 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hard, smooth surface has a hardness less than about 3 mohs, preferably less than about 2 mohs and most preferably less than about 1 moh. 
   
   
       18 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treatment is performed in the absence of an effective amount of surface-improving agents on the contact surface. 
   
   
       19 . A method for maintaining a hard, smooth surface, the surface comprising a material selected from a group consisting of a gelcoat, glass and automotive enamel, the method comprising treatment of the surface with a flexible pad, in the presence of abrasive particles, bonded to the pad, on a contact surface between the pad and the hard surface, wherein the abrasive particles comprise diamond particles,
 wherein the treatment is performed in the absence of an effective amount of surface-improving agents on the contact surface, and wherein the treatment is performed using a pad comprising an open, lofty, three dimensional non-woven web of fibers.   
   
   
       20 . A method for maintaining a hard surface comprising a stone or stone-like material, the method comprising treatment of the surface with a flexible pad, in the presence of abrasive particles, bonded to the pad, on a contact surface between the pad and the hard surface, wherein: the abrasive particles comprise diamond particles, and the treatment is performed in the absence of an effective amount of crystallization agent on the contact surface. 
   
   
       21 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the treatment is performed substantially in the absence of liquid on the contact surface. 
   
   
       22 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the treatment is performed in the presence of water on the contact surface. 
   
   
       23 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the treatment is performed in the presence of water and a cleaning agent on the contact surface. 
   
   
       24 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the treatment is performed using a pad ( 1 ) having abrasive particles bonded to it by means of a secondary binder. 
   
   
       25 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the treatment is performed using a pad having abrasive particles bonded to it only in the vicinity of the contact surface. 
   
   
       26 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the treatment is performed using a pad having abrasive particles of an average diameter of 0.1 to 30 μm, preferably between 0.1 and 15 μm and most preferably between 10 and 15 μm. 
   
   
       27 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the treatment is performed using a pad having diamond particles of an average diameter of 0.1 to 30 μm, preferably between 0.1 and 15 μm and most preferably between 5 and 15 μm. 
   
   
       28 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the treatment is performed using a pad having abrasive particles comprising at least one of natural diamond particles, industrial diamond particles and coated diamond particles. 
   
   
       29 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the treatment is performed using a pad comprising an open, lofty, three dimensional non-woven web of fibers. 
   
   
       30 . The method as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the wherein the treatment is performed using a pad having a density of less than 40 kg/m 3 , preferably 20-35 kg/m 3 . 
   
   
       31 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the hard surface is a floor surface. 
   
   
       32 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the hard surface is a stone or stone-like material having a hardness of about 5 moh or more, preferably 6-7 moh. 
   
   
       33 . The method as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the hard surface is a concrete or terrazzo surface. 
   
   
       34 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the pad, while in contact with the hard surface, is caused to move in relation to the hard surface. 
   
   
       35 . The method as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the pad, while in contact with the hard surface, is caused to rotate at a rotational speed of 50-3000 rpm, preferably of 100-1500 rpm. 
   
   
       36 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the treatment is performed on a substantially regular basis, such as daily, weekly or monthly. 
   
   
       37 . A tool for treating a hard surface, the tool comprising a flexible pad having an active treatment surface presenting abrasive particles bonded to the pad, wherein the pad presents a first portion wherein said abrasive particles are present in a first concentration, and a second portion having a second, lower concentration of said abrasive particles, said abrasive particles comprising diamond particles. 
   
   
       38 . The tool as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein said second portion is substantially free from diamond particles. 
   
   
       39 . The tool as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the pad comprises a disc-shaped body having a thickness and a first surface, wherein said abrasive particles are present on said first surface and down to a depth from said first surface, which depth is less than said thickness, such that said first portion is at said first surface and said second portion is at a second surface, opposite said first surface. 
   
   
       40 . The tool as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the pad comprises a disc-shaped body having a thickness and a first surface, wherein said abrasive particles are present over less than the entire first surface, such that said first and second portions are situated adjacent each other at said first surface. 
   
   
       41 . The tool as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the pad comprises an open, lofty, three dimensional non-woven web, including a plurality of fibers, which are adhered to each other at their points of mutual contact. 
   
   
       42 . The tool as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the abrasive particles are bonded to the material of the pad by a secondary binder. 
   
   
       43 . The tool as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the secondary binder comprises at least one of phenol resin, melamine resin, urea resin and epoxy resin. 
   
   
       44 . The tool as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said secondary binder forms a plurality of distinct droplets having a maximum diameter which is smaller than an average length between two points of mutual contact of a fiber. 
   
   
       45 . The tool as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the abrasive particles are present throughout the secondary binder. 
   
   
       46 . The tool as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the fibers are bonded to each other by a primary binder and/or by being melt-bonded. 
   
   
       47 . The tool as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the abrasive particles comprise diamond particles having an average diameter of 0.1 to 30 μm, preferably between 0.1 and 15 μm and most preferably between 5 and 15 μm. 
   
   
       48 . The tool as claimed in  claim 37 , further comprising second abrasive particles selected from a group consisting of graphite, tin oxide, silicon carbide and aluminum oxide. 
   
   
       49 . The tool as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the pad has the shape of a circular disc having a diameter between 30 and 100 cm and an uncompressed thickness between 1 and 5 cm. 
   
   
       50 . A floor surfacing machine, comprising a tool according to  claim 37 . 
   
   
       51 . A method for manufacturing a tool for treating a hard surface, the method comprising: providing a pad, and applying, on a first surface of the pad, a mixture of a binder and abrasive particles including diamond, such that said pad presents a first portion wherein said abrasive particles are present in a first concentration and a second portion, having a second, lower concentration of said abrasive particles. 
   
   
       52 . The method as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein said second portion is substantially free from said abrasive particles. 
   
   
       53 . The method as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein said binder and abrasive particles are applied to said first surface by spraying, rolling or dipping.