ASK THE EXPERT: Why don't non-woven abrasives have grit sizes?
Channel: Norton Abrasives EMEA
Date: 2021-09-24

Non-woven abrasives products are made from nylon fibers impregnated with abrasive grains. These are the same grains as you'd find in a coated abrasive product, so you'd be right to assume they use the same grit description. 

As Paul our Application Engineer explains, this isn't the case and that's because in a coated abrasive (where the grit is applied to a backing such as paper or cloth), when applied with pressure to a surface, the grain is pushed into it, which cuts through the material as there's nowhere else for the grain to go. This is known as a mono-layer product and the term 'grit size' is used.

With non-woven, the nylon gives a sponge effect, like a spring, which allows the abrasive to push back from the surface. This means the grain isn't applied so aggressively to the metal, even if it's the same grit, giving a softer finish. Non-wovens use the term 'grade' instead of grit to describe their aggression.

Coated abrasives will always remove more material than non-wovens, so (depending on the job), use a coated abrasive first, followed by the non-woven for optimum results. 

If you'd like to challenge our Norton expert, feel free to drop a question in the comments box below and we'll get back to you with an answer. 

For more information about Norton abrasives, or how we can help you, visit https://www.nortonabrasives.com/en-gb or contact your local distributor.