One abrasive, not several!
Abrasives are classified into several categories, which we will present to you.
Ceramic, zirconium, silicon carbide: which one should you choose?
Ceramic abrasive discs are typically red or purple, depending on the manufacturer.
Ceramic is a solid non-metallic material, usually made from clay or other inorganic raw materials such as metal oxides. It is known for its hardness, heat and corrosion resistance, lightness and ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions.
Ceramic sanding discs are made from ceramic grains bonded with synthetic resin or rubber to form a solid disc. They are valued for their hardness and wear resistance, which makes them effective for sanding hard materials such as metals, alloys, ceramics and composites. They are also heat resistant, making them useful for high-temperature sanding applications.
Ceramic abrasive discs are often used in the aerospace and automotive industries and in the manufacture of precision metal parts. However, in construction, they are also used for sanding concrete and stone surfaces.
They do not scratch and generate more dust because they fray the chips into very fine grains.
What's more, ceramics sand 25 to 30% more surface area. This comes at a cost!
Did you know?
Ceramics are also widely used in medicine (dental implants, bone prostheses), engineering (engine parts, bearings, cutting tools) and the electronics industry (capacitors, substrates for integrated circuits).
The properties of ceramics depend on their composition, crystalline structure and manufacturing method. Some types of ceramics are porous and can be used as filters for fluids or gases. Others can be transparent or semi-transparent and are used in optical applications.
Finally, ceramics are also a material often used in arts and crafts, such as pottery, sculpture and ceramic jewellery making.
The colour of the zirconium abrasive disc is typically blue. If you are offered a green one, do not buy it. The grains are overcooked and will not hold!
Zirconium is perfect for metal. Using it for sanding allows for faster and more efficient sanding results on materials that are difficult to sand. It is very effective for roughing, but perhaps a little too effective as it can cause micro-scratches.
Zirconium is a chemical element with the symbol Zr. It is a grey-white, hard and ductile metal, found in nature mainly in the form of a mineral called zircon.
Zirconium is often used as an abrasive material in sanding discs. They are usually made by mixing zirconium with other abrasive materials and binding them with resin or rubber. Please note that there are many variants on the market with too much zirconium combined with silicon carbide, which gives a poorer result. When it breaks, the grains no longer resharpen at all.
Zirconium sanding discs are valued for their ability to quickly remove difficult-to-sand materials such as hard metals, alloys and composite materials. Zirconium is also heat and wear resistant, making it useful for high-temperature sanding applications or for rough and resistant surfaces.
Did you know?
Zirconium is a highly corrosion-resistant metal, making it useful in many applications, including the production of nuclear reactors, pipes, sheet metal and other components for the chemical, oil and gas industries. It is also used in the manufacture of jewellery, watches and other high-quality products due to its resistance to oxidation and its ability to be polished to a lasting shine.
Finally, zirconium is used in alloys, particularly with niobium, hafnium and titanium, to produce materials that are highly resistant to heat and corrosion, such as aircraft turbines and rocket engines.
The colour of the silicon carbide disc is typically black.
Silicon carbide (SiC) is a chemical compound composed of silicon and carbon. It is also called ‘carborundum’ and comes in the form of a hard, black or dark grey crystal.
Silicon carbide is used as an abrasive material in sanding due to its hardness and wear resistance. Here are some of its qualities as an abrasive material:
Hardness: Silicon carbide is very hard and wear-resistant, making it effective for sanding hard materials such as hard floors.
Cutting efficiency: Silicon carbide has a fast and efficient cutting capacity, making it useful for sanding hard floors.
Uniformity: Silicon carbide is often used in uniform grain sizes, which ensures a perfect surface finish.
Versatility: Silicon carbide can be used to sand a variety of materials such as wood or concrete, including metals and plastics.
In short, silicon carbide performs very well for roughing and finishing. It does not scratch. The grains resharpen when they break. Perfect for woodworking.
Did you know?
Silicon carbide is a highly heat- and wear-resistant material, making it useful in many industrial applications, such as the production of ceramics, electronic components, cutting tools, furnace linings and friction materials for car and aircraft brakes. It is also used in the production of semiconductors for the electronics industry.
Due to its electrical conductivity properties, silicon carbide is also used in high-performance electronic devices, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and high-voltage, high-frequency transistors.
Alumina abrasive discs are typically brown in colour.
Alumina, also known as aluminium oxide, is a material widely used in the construction industry for its heat, abrasion and corrosion resistance properties. As such, ceramic and porcelain tiles containing alumina are often used for flooring in high-traffic areas such as entrance halls, shopping centres and airports due to their durability.
In addition to its uses in construction, alumina is also widely used as an abrasive. As an abrasive, alumina oxide is often used to polish, sand and cut materials such as metal, stone, glass and wood.
Alumina oxide is a hard, abrasive material that is capable of cutting quickly through a variety of materials. It is available in powder or granule form and is often used in combination with water or oil to create an abrasive paste for polishing and smoothing.
Due to its hardness and abrasiveness, alumina oxide is also used in the production of sanding discs and sanding belts. It performs very well for woodworking in grits of 50 to 100 for an ideal finish.
However, these grits are not suitable for roughing as they do not hold up well.
PR777 is combined with silicon carbide.
It is important to note that when using alumina oxide for floor sanding, personal protective equipment such as safety goggles, gloves and respiratory masks must be worn to prevent inhalation of abrasive dust.
Choosing the right abrasive is crucial for achieving high-quality sanding or polishing results. Using the wrong abrasive can damage the surface being worked on. Each type of material has a different hardness and reacts differently to abrasives. Using the wrong abrasive can damage the surface being worked on, creating scratches or marks that can be difficult or impossible to remove.
Using the right abrasive will extend the life of your sanding tools. Spread the word!
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Read our other articles on abrasives: Zirconium: an abrasive for floor layers Ceramic: the power of abrasion!
