Abstract:
An abrasive article includes a non-rigid carrier and a plurality of abrasive particles disposed in the carrier, the carrier is made of resin or rubber, a mass ratio of abrasive particles to carrier is about 1:1 to about 5:1. A method for making the abrasive articles includes providing a plurality of abrasive particles and a resin, mixing the rubber and the abrasive particles, heating the mixture to a fluid state, and pressing the mixture into a desired shape. After the mixed is cooled, the mixture is cut into small pellets, forming the abrasive articles.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure generally relates to surface treatment processes. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Abrasive articles are often blasted onto a surface of a product to remove defects of the product. If the hardness of the abrasive articles is high, the abrasive articles may damage the product. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0003]    Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an abrasive article, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the abrasive article along line II-II of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a method for making the abrasive article in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a method for making the abrasive article in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
         [0009]    The term “comprising” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates an abrasive article  100  according to an exemplary embodiment. The abrasive article  100  can have good elasticity, and can be used in blasting and grinding applications. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the abrasive article  100  is ball shaped, and has a diameter of between about 0.2 mm to about 1.0 mm. 
         [0011]    The abrasive article  100  includes a plurality of abrasive particles  10  and a carrier  30 , the abrasive particles  10  can be disposed in or on the carrier  30 . A mass ratio of abrasive particles  10  to carrier  30  can be about 1:1 to about 5:1. In at least one exemplary embodiment,  FIG. 2  illustrates that the carrier  30  can receive a plurality of abrasive particles  10 . 
         [0012]    The abrasive particles  10  can be selected from a group consisting of alumina sand, white fused alumina sand, brown alumina sand, emery, carborundum sand, steel sand, alloy sand, and copper ore. 
         [0013]    The carrier  30  can be made of rubber or resin. 
         [0014]    The rubber can be selected from a group consisting of silicon rubber, natural rubber (NR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), chloroprene rubber (CR), isobutylene-isoprene rubber (IIIR), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber (BR), isoprene rubber (IR), ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM), chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM), chlorobutyl rubber (CIIR), polysulfide rubber (PSR), acrylate rubber (ACM), polyurethane rubber (PUR), chlorohydrin rubber (CO), and fluororubber (FKM). 
         [0015]    The resin can be selected from a group consisting of thermoplastic urethane (TPU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyolyaltha olfin (POE), thermoplastic elastomers (TPES), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP). 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a flowchart is presented in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment. The method  300  is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. The method  300  described below can be carried out using the configurations illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2 , for example, and various elements of these figures are referenced in explaining example method  300 . Each block shown in  FIG. 3  represents one or more processes, methods, or subroutines carried out in the method  300 . Furthermore, the order of blocks is illustrative only and the order of the blocks can change. Additional blocks can be added or fewer blocks can be utilized, without departing from this disclosure. The method  300  can begin at block  301 . 
         [0017]    At block  301 , a plurality of abrasive particles  10  is provided. The abrasive particles  10  can be selected from a group consisting of alumina sand, white fused alumina sand, brown alumina sand, emery, carborundum sand, steel sand, alloy sand, and copper ore. 
         [0018]    At block  302 , a rubber is provided. The rubber can be selected from a group consisting of silicon rubber, natural rubber (NR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), chloroprene rubber (CR), isobutylene-isoprene rubber (IIIR), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber (BR), isoprene rubber (IR), ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM), chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM), chlorobutyl rubber (CIIR), polysulfide rubber (PSR), acrylate rubber(ACM), polyurethane rubber (PUR), chlorohydrin rubber (CO), and fluororubber (FKM). 
         [0019]    At block  303 , the rubber and the abrasive particles  10  can be mixed in a Banbury mixer or an open mill. A mass ratio of the abrasive particles  10  to the rubber can be about 1:1 to about 5:1. 
         [0020]    At block  304 , the mixture of the abrasive particles  10  and the rubber is shaped through an extruding machine, a molding machine, or a calender. In an exemplary embodiment, the mixture is extruded into a wire shape. 
         [0021]    At block  305 , the rubber contained in the mixture is vulcanized by a vulcanizing machine, such the rubber can have good flexibility. The vulcanization process includes heating the mixture at a temperature of about 120° C. for about 10 minutes. 
         [0022]    At block  306 , the vulcanized mixture is cut into pellets by a granulator, forming the abrasive articles  100 . In at least one exemplary embodiment, the abrasive articles  100  are ball shaped, and have a diameter of between about 0.2 mm to about 1.0 mm. Each abrasive article  100  includes a plurality of abrasive particles  10  and a carrier  30  made of rubber, the abrasive particles  10  can be disposed on or in the carrier  30 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a flowchart is presented in accordance with a second example embodiment. The method  400  is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. The method  400  described below can be carried out using the configurations illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2 , for example, and various elements of these figures are referenced in explaining method  400 . Each block shown in  FIG. 4  represents one or more processes, methods, or subroutines, carried out in the method  400 . Furthermore, the illustrated order of blocks is illustrative only and the order of the blocks can change. Additional blocks may be added or fewer blocks may be utilized, without departing from this disclosure. The method  400  can begin at block  401 . 
         [0024]    At block  401 , a plurality of abrasive particles  10  is provided. The abrasive particles  10  can be selected from a group consisting of alumina sand, white fused alumina sand, brown alumina sand, emery, carborundum sand, steel sand, alloy sand, and copper ore. 
         [0025]    At block  402 , a resin is provided. The resin can be selected from a group consisting of thermoplastic urethane (TPU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyolyaltha olfin (POE), thermoplastic elastomers (TPES), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP). 
         [0026]    At block  403 , the resin and the abrasive particles  10  are mixed in a Banbury mixer or an open mill. A mass ratio of the abrasive particles  10  to the resin can be about 1:1 to about 5:1. 
         [0027]    At block  404 , the mixture is put into a grit maker having a screw, the resin contained in the mixture can be heated until the resin is melted to a fluid state, the melted resin can be completely mixed with the abrasive particles  10  through a rotation of the screw. Then the mixture can be pressed or extruded into a desired shape, such as a wire shape. 
         [0028]    At block  405 , the shaped mixture is solidified with cold water. 
         [0029]    At block  406 , the mixture is cut into pellets, forming the abrasive articles  100 . In at least one exemplary embodiment, the abrasive articles  100  are ball shaped, and have a diameter of between about 0.2 mm to about 1.0 mm. Each abrasive article  100  includes a plurality of abrasive particles  10  and a carrier  30  made of resin, the abrasive particles  10  can be disposed in or on the carrier  30 . 
         [0030]    The abrasive articles  100  are formed by cutting the mixture of the abrasive particles  10  and the carrier  30  into pellets, such the abrasive articles  100  not only have the abrasive qualities of the abrasive particles  10 , but also have the flexibility and damping qualities of the carrier  30 . When the abrasive articles  100  are being blasted onto a surface of a product (not shown), the abrasive articles  100  can remove a defect of the product, but as the carrier  30  is elastic, the carrier  30  can also protect the product from damaged. 
         [0031]    It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of assembly and function, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.