Abrasiivien

Abrasiivien, in Finnish, refers to abrasive materials. These are substances used for grinding, polishing, cleaning, or cutting other materials. Abrasives are characterized by their hardness, which must be greater than the material they are intended to abrade. They are typically used in the form of particles, which can be natural or synthetic.

Natural abrasives include minerals like diamond, corundum (which forms emery and is closely related to aluminum oxide), garnet, and quartz. These have been used for centuries in various forms for shaping and smoothing stone and metal. Synthetic abrasives, developed through industrial processes, offer greater consistency and a wider range of properties. Common synthetic abrasives include silicon carbide, aluminum oxide, and cubic boron nitride. Diamond, while naturally occurring, is also widely produced synthetically for industrial applications.

Abrasives are incorporated into a multitude of tools and products. They can be bonded together with an adhesive to form grinding wheels or polishing stones. Alternatively, they can be coated onto a flexible backing, such as paper or cloth, to create sandpaper, abrasive belts, or abrasive cloths. They are also used in loose forms, such as powders or slurries, for lapping and polishing operations. The specific choice of abrasive material, its particle size (grit), and the form in which it is applied depend on the material being worked and the desired finish or cutting action.