Patent ID: 7918713

Claim:
A conditioning process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a system including: (i) a workpiece having a metal working surface; (ii) a contact surface, disposed generally opposite said working surface, said contact surface including an organic, polymeric material and (iii) a plurality of particles, including abrasive particles, said plurality of particles disposed between said contact surface and said working surface, and (b) treating said workpiece so as to: (i) effect an at least partially elastic interaction between said contact surface and said abrasive particles such that at least a portion of said abrasive particles penetrate said working surface, and (ii) incorporate organic particles into said metal working surface, thereby producing a modified working surface, wherein said treating of said workpiece includes a lapping process including: (i) exerting a load on said contact surface and said metal working surface, and (ii) applying a relative motion between said metal working surface and said contact surface; and wherein said treating further includes aging said modified metal working surface in an oxygen-rich environment such that said organic particles are incorporated in said metal working surface.