| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 1 038 637 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
12.12.2001 Bulletin 2001/50 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
27.09.2000 Bulletin 2000/39 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 11.09.1996 |
|
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
DE FR GB IT |
| (62) |
Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC: |
|
96932205.6 / 0925151 |
| (71) |
Applicant: MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY |
|
St. Paul, Minnesota 55133-3427 (US) |
|
| (72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Culler, Scott R.
Burnsville Minnesota 55306 (US)
- Gagliardi, John J.
Hudson Wisconsin 54016 (US)
- Larson, Eric G.
Lake Elmo, Minnesota 55042 (US)
- Martin, Lawrence L
Maplewood Minnesota 55119 (US)
- Nelson, Jeffrey W.
Bayport, Minnesota 55003 (US)
|
| (74) |
Representative: VOSSIUS & PARTNER |
|
Siebertstrasse 4 81675 München 81675 München (DE) |
|
| |
|
| (54) |
Abrasive article and method of making |
(57) This invention pertains to an abrasive article comprising precisely shaped particles.
The abrasive article may be a coated abrasive article, a bonded abrasive article or
a nonwoven abrasive article. The precisely shaped particles may further comprise abrasive
grits, fillers, grinding aids and lubricants. The precisely shaped particles can be
made according to the following method: (a) providing a production tool having a three-dimensional
body which has at least one continuous surface, said surface containing at least one
opening formed in said continuous surface, said at least one opening providing access
to a cavity in said three-dimensional body; (b) providing a dispensing means capable
of introducing a binder precursor comprising a thermosetting resin into said at least
one cavity through said at least one opening; (c) providing a means, within a curing
zone, for at least partially curing said binder precursor; (d) introducing said binder
precursor into at least a portion of said at least one cavity; (e) continuously moving
said at least one cavity through said curing zone to at least partially cure said
binder precursor to provide a solidified, handleable binder having a shape corresponding
to that portion of the cavity into which the binder precursor has been introduced;
(f) removing said binder from said at least one cavity; and (g) converting said binder
to form a precisely shaped particle. Steps (f) and (g) may be conducted simultaneously.
The particles can be bonded together to form a shaped mass, e.g. a wheel; alternatively,
the particles can be bonded to a backing to form a coated abrasive article; or the
particles can be bonded into a fibrous, nonwoven substrate to form a nonwoven abrasive
article.

