A nonwoven abrasive article includes a lofty open nonwoven fiber web comprising entangled fibers; and abrasive platelets secured to the entangled fibers by at least one binder material. A majority of the abrasive platelets are respectively bonded in an edge-wise manner to at least one of the entangled fibers. Methods of making the nonwoven abrasive article and converted forms, including a convolute abrasive wheel, are also disclosed.

A shaped ceramic abrasive particle based on alpha-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 contains a proportion of 5% to 30% by weight of ZrO.sub.2. The alpha-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 has a medium crystallite size of 0.5 m to 3 m and the ZrO.sub.2 has a medium crystallite size of 0.25 m to 8 m.

A polishing pad for polishing a surface, material for a polishing pad and a method for manufacturing material for a polishing pad. A polishing pad has a backing layer and a polishing layer made of sheep wool fibres fixed onto a surface of the backing layer, wherein the polishing layer has loops made of sheep wool fibres.

A floor polishing or grinding pad assembly is provided. In one aspect, a polishing or grinding pad assembly employs a fibrous pad, a reinforcement layer or ring, and multiple floor-contacting disks. In another aspect, the reinforcement layer includes a central hole through which the fibrous pad is accessible and the fibrous pad at the hole has a linear dimension greater than a linear dimension of one side of the adjacent reinforcement layer. In yet another aspect, at least one of the floor-contacting disks has an angle offset from that of a base surface of the disk, the fibrous pad and/or the reinforcement layer. A further aspect employs a smaller set of disks alternating between and/or offset from a larger set of the disks. In another aspect, the reinforcement layer includes a wavy or undulating internal edge shape.

A floor polishing or grinding pad assembly is provided. In one aspect, a polishing or grinding pad assembly employs a fibrous pad, a reinforcement layer or ring, and multiple floor-contacting disks. In another aspect, the reinforcement layer includes a central hole through which the fibrous pad is accessible and the fibrous pad at the hole has a linear dimension greater than a linear dimension of one side of the adjacent reinforcement layer. In yet another aspect, at least one of the floor-contacting disks has an angle offset from that of a base surface of the disk, the fibrous pad and/or the reinforcement layer. A further aspect employs a smaller set of disks alternating between and/or offset from a larger set of the disks. In another aspect, the reinforcement layer includes a wavy or undulating internal edge shape.

A nonwoven abrasive article having a nonwoven web and a binder adhering formed ceramic abrasive particles to fibers of the nonwoven web. The formed ceramic abrasive particles having a formed ceramic abrasive particle size and the fibers having a fiber diameter, and wherein a ratio of the formed ceramic abrasive particle size to the nonwoven fiber diameter is from 0.4 to 3.5.

A nonwoven abrasive article having a nonwoven web and a binder adhering formed ceramic abrasive particles to fibers of the nonwoven web. The formed ceramic abrasive particles having a formed ceramic abrasive particle size and the fibers having a fiber diameter, and wherein a ratio of the formed ceramic abrasive particle size to the nonwoven fiber diameter is from 0.4 to 3.5.

The method generally involves the steps of filling the cavities in a production tool each with an individual abrasive particle. Aligning a filled production tool and a resin coated backing for transfer of the abrasive particles to the resin coated backing. Transferring the abrasive particles from the cavities onto the resin coated backing and removing the production tool from the aligned position with the resin coated backing. Thereafter the resin layer is cured, a size coat is applied and cured and the coated abrasive article is converted to sheet, disk, or belt form by suitable converting equipment.

An abrasive article (100) comprising a backing (102); a make resin (112) contacting the backing (102); abrasive particles (114) contacting the make resin (112); and a size resin (116) contacting both the abrasive particles (114) and the make resin (112), wherein the make resin (112) includes an alkyl quaternary ammonium clay, which can take the form of Garamite.

An abrasive article (100) comprising a backing (102); a make resin (112) contacting the backing (102); abrasive particles (114) contacting the make resin (112); and a size resin (116) contacting both the abrasive particles (114) and the make resin (112), wherein the make resin (112) includes an alkyl quaternary ammonium clay, which can take the form of Garamite.