(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

(21) Application number: 99125307.1

(22) Date of filing: 11.09.1996
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7B24D 3/28, B24D 3/34, B24D 11/00
(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.





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