Method and tool for maintenance of hard surfaces, and a method for manufacturing such a tool

Abstract

A method is disclosed for maintaining a hard surface, the method comprising treating of the surface with a flexible pad ( 1 ), in the presence of abrasive particles, bonded to the pad, on a contact surface between the pad ( 1 ) and the hard surface. The abrasive particles comprise diamond particles, and the treating is performed in the absence of an effective amount of crystallization agent on the contact surface. 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.

1 . A method of cleaning a floor surface of a stone material, including marble, terrazzo, or polished concrete, the method comprising:
 providing a flexible pad of an open, lofty, three dimensional nonwoven web of fibers having diamond particles bonded thereto on a contact surface and dispersed within the flexible pad;   treating the surface of the stone material by applying pressure and relative motion between the contact surface of the flexible pad and the surface of the stone material, in the presence of only water.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible pad has diamond particles bonded thereto by a secondary binder. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible pad has diamond particles bonded thereto only in a vicinity of the contact surface. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the diamond particles have an average size of about 0.1-80 μm. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the diamond particles have an average size of about 80-800 μm. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the diamond particles have an average size of about 80-600 μm. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the diamond particles have an average size of about 80-300 μm. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible pad has diamond particles of an average diameter of 0.1 to 30 μm. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the flexible pad has diamond particles of an average diameter of 0.1 to 15 μm. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the flexible pad has diamond particles of an average diameter of 10 to 15 μm. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed  claim 1 , wherein the flexible pad has diamond particles comprising at least one of natural diamond particles, industrial diamond particles and coated diamond particles. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible pad has a density of less than 40 kg/m 3 . 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the flexible pad has a density of 20-35 kg/m 3 . 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stone material has a hardness of about 6-7 moh. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said flexible pad, while in contact with the surface of stone material, is caused to rotate at a rotational speed of approximately 50-3000 rpm. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said flexible pad, while in contact with the surface of stone material, is caused to rotate at a rotational speed of approximately 100-1500 rpm. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the diamond particles are dispersed within the open, lofty, three dimensional nonwoven web of fibers to a predetermined depth from the contact surface of the flexible pad. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the stone material has a hardness of at least 5 moh. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the treating is performed by a scrubber/dryer combination floor surfacing machine. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the treating is performed by a ridable floor surfacing machine.