Microfiber Reinforcement for Abrasive Tools

Abstract

An abrasive article includes an organic bond material, an abrasive material dispersed in the organic bond material, mineral wool microfibers uniformly dispersed in the organic bond material, the mineral wool microfibers being individual filaments, one or more reinforcement and/or chopped strand fibers dispersed in the organic bond material and one or more active fillers including, for example, a manganese compound. The abrasive article can be used in the abrasive processing of a workpiece.

1 . An abrasive article, comprising:
 an organic bond material;   an abrasive material, dispersed in the organic bond material;   chopped strand fibers dispersed in the organic bond material;
 mineral wool microfibers that are uniformly dispersed in the organic bond material, wherein said microfibers are individual filaments; and 
   one or more fillers, the one or more fillers including a manganese compound.   
     
     
         2 . The abrasive article of  claim 1 , wherein the manganese compound is manganese dichloride. 
     
     
         3 . The abrasive article of  claim 1 , wherein the manganese compound is present in the abrasive article in an amount within the range of from about 1 to about 10 volume %. 
     
     
         4 . The abrasive article of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral wool microfibers are present in the abrasive article in an amount within the range of from about 0.5 to about 10 volume %. 
     
     
         5 . The abrasive article of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive article does not include potassium salts. 
     
     
         6 . The abrasive article of  claim 1 , wherein the chopped strand fibers are fiberglass glass chopped strand fibers. 
     
     
         7 . The abrasive article of  claim 1 , wherein the chopped strand fibers are present in the abrasive article in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 10 volume %. 
     
     
         8 . The abrasive article of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral wool microfibers have a reinforcing aspect ratio of at least 10 and the chopped strand fibers have an aspect ratio of less than 3. 
     
     
         9 . The abrasive article of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive article includes: from 25% by volume to 40% by volume of the organic bond material; from 50% by volume to 60% by volume of the abrasive material; from 0.5% by volume to 10% by volume of the microfibers; from 2% by volume to 10% by volume chopped strand fibers; and from 1% by volume to 10% by volume manganese compound. 
     
     
         10 . The abrasive article of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive article includes one or more glass web reinforcements. 
     
     
         11 . A method of abrasive processing a workpiece, the method comprising:
 mounting the workpiece onto a machine capable of facilitating abrasive processing;   operatively coupling an abrasive article to the machine, the abrasive article comprising an organic bond material; an abrasive material dispersed in the organic bond material; chopped strand fibers dispersed in the organic bond material; microfibers, uniformly dispersed in the organic bond material, wherein the microfibers are individual filaments; and one or more fillers, the one or more fillers including a manganese compound; and   contacting the abrasive article to a surface of the workpiece.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the manganese compound is manganese dichloride. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the manganese compound is present in the abrasive article in an amount within the range of from about 1 to about 10 volume %. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mineral wool microfibers are present in the abrasive article in an amount within the range of from about 0.5 to about 10 volume %. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the abrasive article does not include potassium salts. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the chopped strand fibers are fiberglass glass chopped strand fibers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mineral wool microfibers have a reinforcing aspect ratio of at least 10 and the chopped strand fibers have an aspect ratio of less than 3. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the abrasive article includes: from 25% by volume to 40% by volume of the organic bond material; from 50% by volume to 60% by volume of the abrasive material; from 0.5% by volume to 10% by volume of the microfibers; from 2% by volume to 10% by volume chopped strand fibers; and from 1% by volume to 10% by volume manganese compound. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the abrasive article includes one or more glass web reinforcements. 
     
     
         20 . An abrasive article, comprising:
 an organic bond material;   an abrasive material, dispersed in the organic bond material;   mineral wool microfibers that are uniformly dispersed in the organic bond material, wherein said microfibers are individual filaments;   one or more fillers, the one or more fillers including a manganese compound; and   at least one glass web reinforcement.