Abrasive Grits For Flap Discs

Flap discs are abrasive products with a wide range of uses. There are many different abrasives to choose from. Do you know what abrasive grits are generally available in flap discs?

1. Ceramic abrasive

Ceramic particles have a unique microcrystalline structure and are very brittle under high pressure, so they are self-sharpening. The newly exposed sharp edges are continuously exposed on the surface of the workpiece, which keeps the ceramic abrasive grains sharper and more effective for a long time. Since it works faster and there is less heat build-up in the ceramic grains, these abrasives tend to cut at lower temperatures, reducing glazing and increasing their overall efficiency.

2. Zirconia alumina abrasive

Like ceramics, zirconia alumina is self-sharpening and therefore has a long product life, making it ideal for aggressive regrinding of metals such as carbon steel and stainless steel. Zirconia has a large crystal structure and is a very tough particle with good product life.

3. Aluminum oxide abrasive

Flap discs with alumina abrasives are generally recommended for grinding steel, but can also be used in certain high strength aluminum and bronze alloys. Alumina abrasives vary in quality, they are lumpy, brittle particles and their brittleness depend on purity and carbon content.

4. When to use coarse grit discs

Coarser grit generally removes material faster, but leaves scratches that may be too deep to mix in post. This is especially evident when comparing the finishing processes of carbon steel and stainless steel. When you need fast cuts and where the final surface finish really needs a high degree of finishing, or when the client doesn't care about the finish and just wants to get the job done quickly, you can choose a coarse grit disc.

5. When to choose fine grits disc

Fine grit should be used when a more refined finish is essential to the project. Fine abrasive grains are often used later in the grinding process to remove deeper scratches caused by coarser grains during cutting. For example, scratches on stainless steel surfaces can look ugly after the initial cut from coarse-grained flap discs or a grinding wheel, and to get a more refined finish we'll use finer and finer grits.