Abrasive backing and method of making same

Abstract

An abrasive backing is generally provided. In some embodiments, the abrasive backing includes a base sheet, comprising wood fibers, synthetic fibers, cellulose filaments, a saturant, wherein the saturant includes two or more latex polymers and a crosslinking agent, and a first surface and opposing second surface, a barrier coating adjacent the first surface of the base sheet, and a backside coating adjacent the opposing second surface of the base sheet. A method of producing an abrasive backing is also provided.

1 .- 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . An abrasive backing comprising:
 a base sheet comprising wood fibers, synthetic fibers, cellulose filaments and a saturant comprising two or more latex polymers and a crosslinking agent, said base sheet comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface;   a barrier coating adjacent the first surface of the base sheet; and   a backside coating adjacent the opposing second surface of the base sheet.   
     
     
         57 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein the barrier coating is impervious to liquid water and allows transmission of gases. 
     
     
         58 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein grit is applied adjacent to the surface of the barrier coating opposing the first surface of the base sheet. 
     
     
         59 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein the backside coating is waterproof. 
     
     
         60 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein a layer comprising a plurality of loops or a plurality of hooks is provided on a surface of the backside coating opposing the second surface. 
     
     
         61 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein the wood fibers include hardwood fibers. 
     
     
         62 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein the wood fibers include softwood fibers. 
     
     
         63 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein the wood fibers in the base sheet include a blend of softwood fibers and hardwood fibers wherein the blend comprises 30-70% softwood fibers by weight and 70-30% hardwood fibers by weight, each based on the weight of the wood fibers and the cellulose filaments in the base sheet. 
     
     
         64 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein the two or more latex polymers comprise from 55% to 99.9% by weight based on the weight of the dry solids in the saturant. 
     
     
         65 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein at least two of the two or more latex polymers is crosslinkable. 
     
     
         66 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein the latex polymers are selected from latex polymers having a Tg of from −40° C. to −20° C. and latex polymers having a Tg of from −12° C. to 8° C. 
     
     
         67 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein the latex polymers include 10% to 50% by weight of a latex polymer having a Tg of from −40° C. to −20° C., 50% to 90% by weight of a latex polymer having a Tg of from −12° C. to 8° C., and 10% to 50% by weight of a latex polymer having a Tg of 32° C. to 52° C. based on total dry weight of the latex polymers. 
     
     
         68 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein the crosslinking agent comprises from 0.25% to 1.5% by weight of the saturant based on the weight of the dry solids in the saturant. 
     
     
         69 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein the crosslinking agent comprises an aziridine crosslinking agent. 
     
     
         70 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein the cellulose filaments comprise from 1% to 5% by weight based on the weight of the wood fibers and the cellulose filaments in the base sheet. 
     
     
         71 . The abrasive backing according to  claim 56 , wherein the cellulose filaments have an aspect ratio of from 200 to 5000 and a width of from 30 to 500 nm. 
     
     
         72 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein the synthetic fibers comprise from 2% to 8% by weight based on the weight of the wood fibers and the cellulose filaments in the base sheet. 
     
     
         73 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein the synthetic fibers comprise polyester fibers. 
     
     
         74 . The abrasive backing of  claim 56 , wherein the abrasive backing has a basis weight of from 75 to 155 gsm. 
     
     
         75 . A method of making an abrasive backing comprising:
 providing a base sheet comprising wood fibers, synthetic fibers, and cellulose filaments and a saturant comprising two or more latex polymers and a crosslinking agent;   applying a barrier coating to a first surface of the base sheet; and   applying a backside coating to a second surface of the base sheet opposing said first surface of the base sheet.