05.Category & Attribute of Coated Abrasives

Abrasives and abrasive products are known as the “Industrial Teeth”, and among them, the coated abrasives are regarded as the “Industrial Beautician”. In China, according to most professional magazines and textbooks, “Coated Abrasives” is defined as buffing and blasting tools made by abrasive grains and flexible backings such as cloth, paper, non-woven, etc. by adhesives, in types of roll, sheet, belt, disc and irregular. It also includes buffing products made of cotton, sisal and feather, as well as abrasive compounds in solid or liquid. There are different voices about whether non-woven abrasives and buffing & polishing products should be included in the category of coated abrasives. The global giant in the field of abrasives industry– Norton makes different classifications for Europe and America markets. For example, for Europe market, coated abrasives and non-woven abrasives are in the same category; while for American market, they are divided. By referring to many other products manuals and websites of the famous enterprises, iAbrasive.com is inclined to Norton’s classification for American market. 

There are three important elements for the description of coated abrasives: bonding agent, abrasive grain and backing. Considering the principle of “Inter-crossing Classification”, iAbrasive.com users can choose non-woven when selecting backing type, however, iAbrasive.com suggests that all abrasives made of non-woven backing had better to be put in the category of Non-woven Abrasives.

Ⅰ. Sanding Rolls

Abrasive rolls can be the raw materials of sanding sheets, sanding rolls and sanding discs; while after being cut into smaller pieces, they can be retailed in shop as commodity. So, in iAbrasive.com, the raw-materials-oriented ones are put into the category of Jumbo Rolls, while the commodity-oriented ones are put into the category of Shop Rolls. Their attributions have both similarities and differences, details of which are as following:

Type:Jumbo Roll, Shop Roll

Backing Type: Paper, Cloth, Film, Screen, Non-Woven, Combination, Other

Backing Weight: Customized (because each company has its own symbols)

Abrasive Grain: Aluminum Oxide, White Aluminum Oxide, Silicon Carbide, Zirconia Alumina, Ceramic Aluminum Oxide, Boron Carbide, Natural Abrasives (garnet, flint, etc. can be put into this category), Mixture Abrasives, Other

Available Grits: 12-6000

Bonding Agent: Resin Over Resin, Resin Over Glue, Glue Over Glue, Waterproof

Coating Density: Open, Semi-Open, Closed

Product Color: Black, Blue, Brown, Beige, Gray, Gold, Green, Maroon, Orange, Purple, Pink, Red, White, Yellow, Other

Materials Abraded: Glass, Leather, Metal, Nonferrous Metal, Paint, Plastics, Steel, Stainless, Titanium, Wood, Universal, Other; (multiple choice)

Width: 25mm (1″)-425mm (17″)

Width is unique for Shop Rolls. iAbrasiv.com has not collected the width for Jumbo Rolls. Material Abraded is multiple choice, but iAbrasive.com believes Universal is better if all listed materials are capable. Selecting the most suitable one(s) can help increasing products exposure, on the contrast, if selecting all the materials no matter capable or not, the posted products will not win much more exposure, or even leave a bad impression to buyers.

Ⅱ. Sanding Sheets

All above illustrated attributes for Sanding Rolls, such as backing type, backing weight, abrasive grain, available grits, bonding agent, coating density, product color and materials abraded, are also necessary for Sanding Sheets. Additionally, according to the types of sanding sheets, some special attributes are set as following.

Type: Sanding Sheets (230*280mm (9X11″)), Cut Sheets/ Strips, Delta Sheets, Abrasive Sponge, Other

Width: 70-230mm

Ⅲ. Sanding Belts

Apart from above listed attributes such as backing type, backing weight, available grit, bonding agent, coating density, product color and material abraded, some other special attributes are added in iAbrasive.com, such as type, joint type.

Type: File Belts, Portable Belts, Narrow Belts, Wide Belts, Other

Width: 3mm (1/8″)-2650mm (106″)

Joint Type: Overlap, Overlap + Top Skived, Butt Joint, Z-lock Butt

There are many other joint types that will be illustrated with images for easy understanding in iAbrasive.com.

Ⅳ. Sanding Discs

Disc Type: Fiber Discs, Cloth Discs, Paper Discs, Sanding Disc Roll, Specialty

Diameter: 25mm (1″)-235mm (9-1/8″)

Fastening Type: None, Hook & Loop, PSA/Adhesive, Quick Change, Arbor Hole, Other

Vacuum Holes: None, Round Hole, 5 Holes, 6 Holes, 8 Holes, 16 Holes, Other

Abrasive Grain: Aluminum Oxide, White Aluminum Oxide, Silicon Carbide, Zirconia Alumina, Ceramic Aluminum Oxide, Boron Carbide, Natural Abrasives (garnet, flint, etc. can be put into this category), Mixture Abrasives, Other

Available Grits: 16-320 (multiple choice)

Product Color: Black, Blue, Brown, Beige, Gray, Gold, Green, Maroon, Orange, Purple, Pink, Red, White, Yellow, Other

Materials Abraded: Glass, Leather, Metal, Nonferrous Metal, Paint, Plastics, Steel, Stainless, Titanium, Wood, Universal, Other; (multiple choice)

Ⅴ. Flap Discs

Type: Type 27 (Flat), Type 28 (Tapered), Type 29 (Convex)

Diameter: 50mm (2″)-180mm (7″)

Backing Plate: Fiberglass, Plastic, Other

Fastening Type: Arbor Hole, Threaded Hub, Other

Abrasive Grain: Refer to Sanding Rolls

Available Grits: 24-120 (multiple choice)

Product Color: Refer to Sanding Rolls

Materials Abraded: Refer to Sanding Rolls

Ⅵ. Flap Wheels

There are 5 attributes for flap wheels: shape, diameter, abrasive grains, available grit and abraded materials.

Shape: Shank Mounted, Tread Mounted, Arbor Holes, Interleaved

Available Grits: 40-320

The attributes of abrasive grain and materials abraded can be referred to that of Sanding Roll.

Ⅶ. Specialties

Type: Spiral Bands, Cartridge Rolls, Square/ Cross Pads

Warm Notice:

iAbrasive.com strongly believes that you’d better not put your product into the category of “Other”, unless you indeed can not find the proper classification. In iAbrasive.com, the products in the category of “Other” will be show in the button of product listing. Also, iAbrasive.com will make adjustment for current categories & attributes irregularly for this category. For example, add some new or hide some current ones, etc. You are warm welcome to share your opinions with us if you have different views about the Category & Attribute explained here. We will read your feedbacks carefully. Thanks a lot. Email: s@iabrasive.com