Abstract: Abrasive tools with preferential arrangements and patterns of abrasive elements which accomplish a range of performance goals and optimize both removal rate and finish are disclosed.

Abstract: A polishing pad comprises a carrier and layer of a non-porous thermoplastic polymer secured to a surface thereof and containing a mass of discrete abrasive particles, comprising diamond or cubic boron nitride, uniformly dispersed therein. The abrasive particles have a particle size of up to 500 microns and are present in the layer in a concentration of up to 30 volume percent. The layer presents an abrasive polishing surface. The abrasive layer may also comprise a plurality of spaced strips secured to a surface of the carrier and each strip presents an abrasive polishing surface.

Abstract: An improved polishing pad is provided comprising a solid uniform polymer sheet having no intrinsic ability to absorb or transport slurry particles having during use a surface texture or pattern which has both large and small flow channels present simultaneously which permit the transport of slurry across the surface of the polishing pad, where said channels are not part of the material structure but are mechanically produced upon the pad surface. In a preferred version of the invention, the pad texture consists of a macrotexture produced prior to use and a microtexture which is produced by abrasion by a multiplicity of small abrasive points at a regular selected interval during the use of the pad.

Abstract: The invention provides an abrasive article having a surface having a machine direction axis and opposite side edges, each side edge being parallel to the machine direction axis and a plurality of parallel rows of abrasive composites in fixed position on the surface, each row being aligned at an angle with a side edge which is neither 0.degree. nor 90.degree., and methods for making such an abrasive article. The abrasive article of this invention also can be used in any convenient form including an endless belt. The resulting abrasive article provides a high rate of cut, long belt life, and a relatively fine surface finish on the workpiece being abraded.

Abstract: A flexible honeycomb panel containing wire or other abrasive material for abrading a workpiece, including a honeycomb core embedded with a quantity of abrasive material, and a facing sheet. The honeycomb core is formed of undulating strips of resilient thermoplastic material that are thermal compression bonded together to form cell walls defining a plurality of contiguous regularly shaped cells. The abrasive material is contained within the strips. The facing sheet, formed of resilient thermoplastic material, is thermal compression bonded to a face of the core. The bonding is accomplished by simultaneously applying heat and pressure to the joinder of the facing sheet and the core. The opposite face of the core remains uncovered. In use, the uncovered face of the core is brought into rubbing contact with the workpiece.

Abstract: A technique for mounting polishing pads to a platen in chemi-mechanical polishing apparatus is disclosed. With two polishing pads, prior to assembly, a seal of material impervious to the chemical action of a polishing slurry is disposed about the perimeter of the interface between the pads. Preferably, the seal is a bead of silicon-based "gasket" material, such as General Electric silicon caulk (RTV) or Dow Corning silicon adhesive, and is disposed in a ring at a radius r' about one inch inward from the perimeter (circumference) of the pads. When the pads are assembled together, the bead squashes and (1) forms a seal, and (2) causes the periphery of the upper pad to curve upward--thereby creating a bowl-like reservoir for increasing the residence time of slurry on the face of the pad prior to overflowing the pad.

Abstract: A paint finishing pad adapted to be used on a drive assembly including a back up pad and a drive motor for rotating the back up pad. The paint finishing pad includes a layer of open cell polymeric foam having a front surface defined by a plurality of spaced projecting portions of the layer of foam, and loops projecting from a rear surface of the layer of foam for releasably attaching the paint finishing pad to a support surface on the back up pad.