Saint-Gobain Abrasives is the world’s leading manufacturer of bonded abrasives: natural or synthetic grains molded into numerous shapes of grinding designed for a variety of applications including, grinding, sharpening & cutting.
From standard aluminum oxide bench wheels to premium ceramic abrasive surface grinding wheels, we offer high performance abrasive solutions that can maximise productivity in virtually all industrial applications.
The extensive product range is designed to meet all your precision grinding and roughing application needs, with all the most appropriate abrasive specifications, including grinding wheels, segments, mounted points, dressing sticks and sharpening stones.
Saint-Gobain offers the most complete range of product shapes and sizes, with products from several millimeters to 2 meters in diameter, and in compositions to suit every need.
ABRASIVES
Modern synthetic abrasives allow accurate control over the physical properties and form of the abrasive grain. This helps to ensure that grinding wheels can be manufactured with consistent cutting properties. We offer a comprehensive selection of abrasive types to provide a wide range of specific grinding characteristics.
This is necessary for maximum efficiency in the large variety of operations demanded by the industry today.
Abrasive Grain Size
The grain or grit size is most important in determining a wheel’s ability to achieve the required surface finish and remove stock. The size is designated by a number which increases as grain size decreases. For example 10 grit has a median size of about 2,0mm and 60 grit 0,25mm. Standard sizes are used in all our wheels as specified in the European Standards laid down by FEPA. An ideal grinding abrasive has the ability to stay sharp with minimum point dulling, and when dulling begins it fractures revealing new sharp cutting edges.
BONDS
VITRIFIED
Vitrified bonds are the most common precision grinding bond. Porosity and strength of the wheels made with this bond give high stock removal along with their rigidity helping to attain high precision. Not affected by water, acid, oils or ordinary
temperature variations.
ORGANIC
These bonds are used in two types of wheels. Firstly, wheels used on portable or fixed machines for the rapid removal of metal. Secondly, cutting-off wheels either un-reinforced or reinforced, for use on portable or fixed machines.
WHEEL GRADES
The grade indicates the relative holding power of the bond, which holds abrasive grains in a wheel. This is represented in the specification by letters running through the alphabet from hardest to softest. The following rules should be followed with regard to grade:
Use Soft Grade
For hard materials such as hard tool steels & carbides
For large areas of contact
For rapid stock removal
Use Hard Grade
For soft materials
For small or narrow areas on contact
For longer wheel life