Loose abrasive bodies and method of abrading a workpiece using the same

Abstract

A method of abrading a surface of a workpiece comprises agitating a vessel containing loose abrasive bodies and the workpiece. At least most of the loose abrasive bodies have a maximum dimension of 0.25 to 3 centimeters. On a respective basis, each loose abrasive body comprises abrasive particles secured to an organic substrate by a binder material. The vessel is agitated with sufficient energy such that at least some of the loose abrasive bodies contact and abrade at least a portion of the surface of the workpiece. A plurality of chopped loose abrasive bodies, wherein, on a respective basis, the chopped loose abrasive bodies each comprise abrasive particles secured to a substrate and have a maximum dimension of 0.25 to 1.5 centimeters is also disclosed.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A plurality of chopped loose abrasive bodies, wherein, on a respective basis, the chopped loose abrasive bodies each comprise abrasive particles secured to a substrate and have a maximum dimension of 0.25 to 1.5 centimeters, and wherein, on a respective basis, the abrasive particles are secured to the substrate by a binder material. 
     
     
         22 . The plurality of chopped loose abrasive bodies of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of chopped loose abrasive bodies has a predetermined size distribution. 
     
     
         23 . The plurality of chopped loose abrasive bodies of  claim 22 , wherein the predetermined size distribution has at least two modes. 
     
     
         24 . The plurality of chopped loose abrasive bodies of  claim 21 , wherein at least some of the chopped loose abrasive bodies comprise chopped coated abrasive articles. 
     
     
         25 . The plurality of chopped loose abrasive bodies of  claim 21 , wherein at least some of the chopped loose abrasive bodies comprise chopped lofty open nonwoven abrasive articles. 
     
     
         26 . The plurality of chopped loose abrasive bodies of  claim 21 , wherein at least some of the chopped loose abrasive bodies comprise chopped unitized or convolute abrasive articles. 
     
     
         27 . The plurality of chopped loose abrasive bodies of  claim 21 , wherein, on a respective basis, at least some of the substrates comprise resilient foam. 
     
     
         28 . The plurality of chopped loose abrasive bodies of  claim 21 , wherein at least some of the substrates respectively comprise metal foil. 
     
     
         29 . The plurality of chopped loose abrasive bodies of  claim 21 , wherein at least some of the abrasive particles comprise crushed abrasive particles. 
     
     
         30 . The plurality of chopped loose abrasive bodies of  claim 21 , wherein at least some of the abrasive particles comprise shaped abrasive particles. 
     
     
         31 . The plurality of chopped loose abrasive bodies of  claim 21 , wherein the binder material comprises crosslinked organic binder material. 
     
     
         32 . A method of abrading a surface of a workpiece, the method comprising:
 providing a vessel containing:
 loose abrasive bodies, wherein at least most of the loose abrasive bodies have a maximum dimension of 0.25 to 3 centimeters, and wherein, on a respective basis, each loose abrasive body comprises abrasive particles secured to an organic substrate by a binder material; and 
 the workpiece; and 
   agitating the vessel with sufficient energy such that at least some of the loose abrasive bodies contact and abrade at least a portion of the surface of the workpiece.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the vessel has a maximum retaining capacity, and wherein the plurality of loose abrasive bodies has a total volume that is at least 25 percent of the maximum retaining capacity of the vessel. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of loose abrasive bodies has a total volume that is at least 50 percent of the maximum retaining capacity of the vessel. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the vessel is agitated by linear displacement. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the method is continuous. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the workpiece comprises metal. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the workpiece comprises plastic. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the loose abrasive bodies comprise the plurality of chopped loose abrasive bodies of  claim 21 .