Method of abrading a metal workpiece

Abstract

A method of abrading a metal workpiece including contacting a metal workpiece with an abrasive article, wherein the abrasive article includes a flexible waterproof backing having a first surface bearing a cured primer coating; and a plurality of shaped structures, each structure having a distal end spaced from said backing and an attachment end attached to the primer coating on the backing, said shaped structures including a mixture of abrasive particles and cured particulate binder, wherein the metal workpiece is contacted with the distal ends of the shaped structures to form an abrading interface; moving the abrasive article relative to the metal workpiece while providing sufficient force between the metal workpiece and the distal ends of the shaped structures of the abrasive article to abrade the metal workpiece; and applying liquid coolant proximate the abrading interface.

1 . A method of abrading a metal workpiece comprising:
 contacting a metal workpiece with an abrasive article, wherein the abrasive article comprises:
 a flexible waterproof backing having a first surface bearing a cured primer coating; and 
 a plurality of shaped structures, each structure having a distal end spaced from said backing and an attachment end attached to the primer coating on the backing, said shaped structures comprising a mixture of abrasive particles and cured particulate binder, 
 wherein the metal workpiece is contacted with the distal ends of the shaped structures to form an abrading interface; 
   moving the abrasive article relative to the metal workpiece while providing sufficient force between the metal workpiece and the distal ends of the shaped structures of the abrasive article to abrade the metal workpiece; and   applying liquid coolant proximate the abrading interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the abrasive particles comprise silicon carbide. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cured particulate binder comprises cured thermoset particulate binder. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the flexible waterproof backing comprises treated woven polyester fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the liquid coolant comprises water and oil. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising rotating the workpiece is being abraded. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive article is an abrasive belt. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the abrasive belt is mounted on a centerless grinding machine. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the abrasive belt is mounted on a fixed center roll grinding machine. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the shaped structures of the abrasive article comprise a cross-section selected from the group consisting of square, circular, rectangular, hexagonal, and triangular. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the shaped structures are arranged in a tessellated pattern. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the shaped structured are formed by an embossing process. 
     
     
         13 . A method of abrading a metal workpiece comprising:
 contacting a metal workpiece with an abrasive article, wherein the abrasive article comprises:
 a flexible waterproof backing having a first surface bearing a cured primer coating; and 
 a plurality of shaped structures, each structure having a distal end spaced from said backing and an attachment end attached to the primer coating on the backing, said shaped structures comprising a mixture of abrasive particles and a cured mixture of thermoplastic and thermoset particulate binder, 
 wherein the metal workpiece is contacted with the distal ends of the shaped structures to form an abrading interface; 
   moving the abrasive article relative to the metal workpiece while providing sufficient force between the metal workpiece and the distal ends of the shaped structures of the abrasive article to abrade the metal workpiece; and   applying liquid coolant proximate the abrading interface.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the liquid coolant comprises water and oil. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising rotating the workpiece is being abraded. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the abrasive article is an abrasive belt. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the abrasive belt is mounted on a centerless grinding machine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the abrasive belt is mounted on a fixed center roll grinding machine. 
     
     
         19 . A method of abrading a cylindrical metal workpiece comprising:
 contacting a cylindrical workpiece with an abrasive article, wherein the abrasive article comprises:
 a flexible waterproof backing having a first surface bearing a cured primer coating; and 
 a plurality of shaped structures, each structure having a distal end spaced from said backing and an attachment end attached to the primer coating on the waterproof backing, said shaped structures comprising a mixture of silicon carbide abrasive particles, and a cured thermoset particulate binder, 
 wherein the cylindrical workpiece is contacted with the distal ends of the shaped structures to form an abrading interface; 
   moving the abrasive article relative to the cylindrical workpiece while providing sufficient force between the cylindrical workpiece and the distal ends of the shaped structures of the abrasive article to abrade the cylindrical workpiece; and   applying liquid coolant proximate the abrading interface.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the silicon carbide abrasive particles have an average particle size in the range of 4 to 40 micrometers. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the flexible waterproof backing comprises treated woven polyester fabric. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the liquid coolant comprises water and oil. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising rotating the workpiece while the workpiece is being abraded. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the abrasive article is an abrasive belt. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the abrasive belt is mounted on a centerless grinding machine. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the abrasive belt is mounted on a fixed center roll grinding machine. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19  wherein at least a portion of the shaped structures of the abrasive belt comprise a cross-section selected from the group consisting of square, circular, rectangular, hexagonal, and triangular. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the shaped structures are formed by an embossing process.