Man’s use of abrasives for metal and wood finishing is well documented. The first archaeological evidence
of natural abrasives dates to about 20,000 BC, when various peoples used sand
and stone to shape weapons and tools. Ancient Egyptians and Romans used emery,
a fine-grained mineral, to polish gems, marble, and metals. The 13th
century Chinese used crushed shells, seeds, and sand, with natural gums to fix
the bits to parchment to create an abrasive product. (Unknown, Abrasive)
The industrial revolution saw huge strides in the technology of
abrasive products and the use of abrasives in the manufacturing process. Prior
to this time, primitive sandpaper and emery cloth was produced using a backing coated
with glue, sprinkled with abrasives and hung up to dry. In 1833
sandpaper, then known as glass paper, was being manufactured in London. Then in
1834 Isaac Fisher, Jr. patented the first process for mass manufacturing of
sandpaper in the United States. In 1891 Edward G. Acheson invented the first
synthetic abrasive. He mixed clay and carbon then heated the mixture. The result was silicon-carbide crystals,
which were harder than all other substances except diamond. (Unknown, Abrasive)
This discovery led to the development of silicon carbide waterproof sandpaper
in the abrasives industry.
In 1921 a printer from Philadelphia patented wetodry waterproof sandpaper. This paper that could be used
with water or oil to reduce dust produced while sanding thus reducing
inhalation of poisonous lead dust. 3M was able to purchase the rights to the
Wetodry paper revolutionizing the sandpaper industry. (Hill)
Founded in 1885, Norton Abrasives manufactured the first grinding wheel that could be precision made and mass-produced. Norton Abrasives was able to meet the growing need of the rapidly growing
U.S. manufacturing industry, for an ever-increasing supply of grinding wheels
to build and maintain machinery.
Norton Abrasives products provide abrasive solutions for the
industrial marketplace. Norton is on the cutting edge of the newest emerging
Industrial abrasive technologies: polishing wind turbines, aerospace alloys,
medical prosthesis, metal fabrication and more.
Having merged with Saint-Gobain Abrasives, the world’s largest
abrasives manufacturer, the company has re-engineered Norton SG BLAZE PLUS ceramic abrasive belts, flap discs and discs to
have 30% longer life than original BLAZE products. The new Norton SG BLAZE PLUS ceramic grains have more elongated shape with extreme point endurance in
addition to improved grain microfracturing properties continually exposing new,
sharp cutting edges. (unknown, Nortonabrasives)
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| AA Abrasives takes sandpaper delivery from BlueComet. |
The abrasives industry is an ever evolving collaboration between science
and manufacturing. Modern abrasives are mass-produced
to exacting standards. Higher grinding-wheel speeds, more powerful finishing
tools, and improved abrasives have steadily enlarged the role abrasives play in
the manufacturing industry.
For additional technical information, visit our website at aaabrasives.com or call
800-888-1802 to speak to an abrasives specialist at AA Abrasives.
Works Cited
Hill, Charles W. L., Gareth R. Jones. Strategic
Management: An Integrated Approach. Cengage Learning, 2007, 2007.
unknown.
"Abrasive." 2000. http://autocww.colorado.edu/~toldy2/E64ContentFiles/MachinesAndTools/Abrasive.html.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2000 . 2012
<http://encarta.msn.com>.
—. Nortonabrasives.
2012 <http://www.nortonabrasives.com>.
—. "Sandpaper."
August 2010. Wikipedia. 2012
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandpaper>.
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