Hankausaineet

Hankausaineet, also known as abrasives, are materials used to shape, finish, or clean a workpiece through rubbing. This process, known as abrasion, works by using harder particles to wear away softer material from the surface. Hankausaineet can be naturally occurring or synthetically produced. Natural abrasives include materials like diamond, emery, corundum, and quartz. Synthetic abrasives, developed for specific applications and consistent quality, include silicon carbide, aluminum oxide, and boron nitride.

The effectiveness of a hankausaine depends on its hardness, toughness, and grain shape. Hardness is the ability to resist scratching, while toughness relates to its ability to withstand fracture. Grain shape influences the cutting action; sharp, angular grains are aggressive cutters, while rounded grains are better for polishing. Hankausaineet are typically bonded together to form grinding wheels, sandpaper, or polishing cloths, or they can be used in loose form, often with a liquid or paste, for lapping or tumbling operations.

Applications for hankausaineet are vast and include metalworking, woodworking, glass manufacturing, stone cutting, and even in personal care products like toothpaste. The choice of hankausaine and its form is critical for achieving the desired surface finish, dimensional accuracy, and efficiency of the operation. The grit size of the abrasive, referring to the number of particles per linear inch of sieve, determines the coarseness of the abrasion; finer grits produce smoother finishes.