Surface conditioning article and methods of making and using the same

Abstract

A surface conditioning article comprises: a fabric backing having first and second opposed major sides: a lofty open nonwoven fiber web comprising entangled fibers disposed on and secured to the first major side of the fabric backing; and abrasive particles secured to the lofty open nonwoven fiber web by a binder material disposed on the first major side. At least some of the entangled fibers extend through the fabric backing from the first side to the second side. At least one raised feature comprising an organic polymer is disposed on a minor portion of the second major side of the fabric backing. The entangled fibers extending through the fabric backing have an average diameter and at least one raised feature has a height of at least 8 times the average diameter. A method of making the surface conditioning article is also disclosed.

1 . A surface conditioning article comprising:
 a fabric backing having first and second opposed major sides;   a lofty open nonwoven fiber web comprising entangled fibers disposed on and secured to the first major side of the fabric backing, wherein at least some of the entangled fibers extend through the fabric backing from the first side to the second side;   abrasive particles secured to the lofty open nonwoven fiber web disposed on the first major side, wherein the abrasive particles are secured to the lofty open nonwoven fiber web by a binder material; and   at least one raised feature disposed in a regular or random pattern on a minor portion of the second major side of the fabric backing, wherein the entangled fibers extending through the fabric backing have an average diameter, wherein the at least one raised feature has a height of at least 8 times the average diameter, and wherein the at least one raised feature comprises an organic polymer.   
     
     
         2 . The surface conditioning article of  claim 1  in the form of an endless belt. 
     
     
         3 . The surface conditioning article of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one raised feature extends from 0.3 to 0.8 millimeters away from the second major side of the fabric backing. 
     
     
         4 . The surface conditioning article of  claim 1 , wherein the organic polymer comprises a thermoset polymer or a thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The surface conditioning article of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one raised feature further comprises a low friction additive dispersed in the organic polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The surface conditioning article of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one raised feature comprises stripes. 
     
     
         8 . The surface conditioning article of  claim 7 , wherein the stripes are linear, wavy, or parallel 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The surface conditioning article of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one raised feature comprises an array of discrete elements. 
     
     
         12 . The surface conditioning article of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one raised feature comprises a network of interconnected lines. 
     
     
         13 . The surface conditioning article of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one raised feature exhibits a glass transition temperature that is less than or equal to 60° C. according to ASTM test method D418-15 “Standard Test Method for Transition Temperatures and Enthalpies of Fusion and Crystallization of Polymers by Differential Scanning calorimetry”. 
     
     
         14 . The surface conditioning article of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one raised feature is disposed on less than 50 percent of the second major side of the fabric backing. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method of making a surface conditioning article, the method comprising the steps:
 providing a fabric backing having first and second opposed major sides;   needle tacking a lofty open nonwoven fiber web and the fabric backing, wherein the lofty open nonwoven fiber web comprises entangled fibers, such that some of the entangled fibers extend through the fabric backing from the first side to the second side;   disposing a mixture of abrasive particles and a curable binder precursor onto the lofty open nonwoven fiber web adjacent to the first major side of the fabric backing;   at least partially curing the curable binder precursor; and   disposing at least one raised feature in a regular of random pattern on a minor portion of the second major side of the fabric backing of the fabric backing, wherein the entangled fibers extending through the fabric backing have an average diameter, wherein the at least one raised feature has a height of at least 8 times the average diameter, and wherein the at least one raised feature comprises an organic polymer.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising converting the surface conditioning article into an endless belt. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the steps are consecutive. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the organic polymer comprises a thermoset polymer, or a thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one raised feature is disposed in stripes. 
     
     
         23 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one raised feature comprises an array of discrete elements. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one raised feature comprises a network of interconnected lines. 
     
     
         28 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said disposing the at least one raised feature comprises providing the at least one raised feature as a solution or dispersion in a liquid vehicle, and wherein the method further comprises removing at least a portion of the liquid vehicle. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one raised feature extends from  0 .30 to 0.8 millimeters away from the second major side of the fabric backing.