Abstract: A tool for a mechanical surface treatment of an object by friction is disclosed. The tool is cut to a desired shape and size from a processed fleece of fibers. The fleece is produced by exclusively mechanical processes as a flexible random-fiber fleece which permits, during the treatment of the object at a particular treatment pressure, immersion and at least partial envelopment of the object within the fleece. The fleece has a mechanical strength of 150-500 N/50 mm, preferably at least 300 N/50 mm, and a mean elongation at rupture of 50-150%, preferably 80-100%, according to DIN 53 857/2.

Abstract: A rotary bristle tool having a backing with a plurality of bristles extending therefrom. The bristles have a cross section and preferential orientation to control deflection during rotation of the tool. One embodiment is well suited for refining the inside surface of two-way and three-way corners. The backing and bristles are preferably integrally molded. The rotary bristle tool is molded from a moldable polymer such a thermoset polymer, thermoplastic polymer, or thermoplastic elastomer. The rotary bristle tool can include an attachment member molded integrally with the backing. Also disclosed is a method of making a rotary bristle tool and a method of refining a workpiece surface with a rotary bristle tool.

Abstract: A hard polishing pad with a porous surface for use in chemical-mechanical planarization of semiconductor wafers. The polishing pad has a body with a planarizing surface upon which a slurry may be deposited, and a plurality of particles are suspended in the body. The body is made from a continuous phase matrix material, and the particles are made from a substantially incompressible material that is soluble in the slurry. As a wafer is planarized, the particles at the planarizing surface of the polishing pad dissolve in the slurry and create pores in the pad. Also, because the particles are substantially incompressible, they reinforce the pad to provide a hard, substantially incompressible pad.

Abstract: A flexible, open-pored cleaning body having at least one scouring surface (2) provided in at least one subregion with continuously formed, raised projecting ridges (3), wherein the ridges (3) have regions C,D of different heights in the direction of their extension.

Abstract: A cleaning and polishing assembly having a compressible main body with a releasable attachment material on one face and a fibrous working surface on its other face. The fibrous working surface is composed of fibers having a trilobal cross-section. The cleaning and polishing pad can be mounted on a power drive tool, or in a hand-actuated embodiment, can be mounted to a gripping pad specially adapted for hand use.

Abstract: A polymeric foam finishing pad is made by attaching a dense array of individual foam fingers to a suitable backing substrate. The fingers may be individually attached to the substrate or attached to the substrate by an intermediate foam strip to which the fingers are integrally joined. When making a circular rotary buffing pad, the foam strip is preferably attached to the substrate in a spiral pattern.

Abstract: An article made by spin welding a fastener to the article. In a preferred mode, a method of spin welding a fastener to a surface conditioning treating article is disclosed. The fastener comprises a generally planar base including a first side, a second side, and a drive member extending from the second side. The surface treating article comprises a working surface adapted to treat a workpiece surface, and a back surface, the back surface comprising an open woven scrim. The first side of the fastener base is melt-bonded by the spin weld method to the open woven scrim of the surface treating article.

Abstract: Methods for preparing abrasive articles and novel methods of making abrasive articles are presented. One method includes inserting a fibrous material adjacent an interior surface of a drum. A composition comprising an organic binder precursor material is then placed in the drum, and the drum is rotated such that centrifugal forces distribute the composition, including the organic binder precursor material, uniformly about the fibrous material. The composition is exposed to conditions sufficient to solidify the organic binder precursor material such that an endless, flexible, seamless substrate is formed having an outer surface formed adjacent the interior surface of the drum, an inner surface opposite the outer surface and the fibrous material embedded therein. Coated abrasives formed by this method, as well as other methods, are provided wherein an effective amount of a fibrous reinforcing material is engulfed within an organic polymeric binder material.

Abstract: The inventive polishing pad is used for planarizing semiconductor wafers or other substrates with a mechanical or CMP process; the polishing pad preferably has a body made from a matrix material, bonding molecules bonded to the matrix material, and abrasive particles bonded to the bonding molecules in a manner that affixes the abrasive particles to the matrix material and substantially maintains the affixation between the matrix material and the abrasive particles in the presence of an electrostatic CMP slurry or other planarizing solution. The bonding molecules are preferably covalently attached to the matrix material and substantially all of the abrasive particles are preferably covalently bonded to at least one bonding molecule.

Abstract: An abrasive sheet for fine texture processing has threads planted uniformly on a surface of a flexible base sheet and abrasive particles are attached by a binder to each of these threads uniformly over a specified distance from the tip such that the threads remain free to move independently without getting stuck to each other. Such an abrasive sheet can be manufactured by gravure processing with the separation between a gravure roller and a back roller adjusted according to the distance over which a coating material including the abrasive particles can be applied to the threads.

Abstract: The fibrous scrubbing pad is proposed for use in wet orbital power scuffing of a damaged portion of a painted surface for enhancing paint color blending and adhesion during repair. It is particularly suited for use in auto collision repair. The pad most preferably incorporates three layers, a top layer comprising a sheet of loops mechanically engaged by a hooked surface of a power device disc pad used for driving the fibrous scrubbing pad, and a wet acid based scuffing medium impermeable layer of material engaging the sheet of loops to one surface of a fibrous pad layer used to scrub a wet acid based scuffing medium against the painted surface, to cause scuffing thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for chemical/mechanical polishing in which an object to be polished, such as a wafer, is polished by pressing a polishing pad on the object and rotating the polishing pad relative to the object while supplying a slurry to the object, wherein the polishing pad contains a shape memory material. This is effective to easily repair the polishing pad for a short period of time, and hence to increase the productivity in manufacture of ICs or the like.

Abstract: A longitudinally extending web of lofty nonwoven abrasive surface treatment material is provided in a coreless roll form to the end user. Successive wraps of the nonwoven abrasive material have interengaging surfaces sufficient to maintain the material in a spirally wrapped configuration yet being readily separable. A plurality of longitudinally spaced and laterally disposed perforations through the web permit the user to successively separate the web into a plurality of sheets of abrasive surface treatment material. In a preferred embodiment, the roll is encased in a protective shrink wrap sheath, and each sheet is separated from the roll by separating said sheet from an innermost wrap of the roll.

Abstract: An improved honing tool including a holder having an open sided cavity located in one side thereof, a sidewall portion extending around at least a portion of the cavity, and one or more elongated filaments of a polymeric material having particles of an abrasive substance dispersed throughout, each of the one or more filaments having an end extending into the cavity, the one or more filament ends being heated sufficiently so as to be softened or melted to conform to the shape of the cavity and intimately engage the sidewall for retaining the one or more filament ends in the cavity. The method for manufacturing the present honing tool includes the steps of applying energy to the holder to heat the holder to a temperature sufficient to soften or melt the one or more filament ends while pressing the filament ends into the cavity so as to conform them to the shape thereof, the holder being preferably heated by induction.

Abstract: A coated abrasive belt with an abrasive grain layer on one side of a flexible substrate. The substrate comprises a longitudinal strength layer (4, 5) and a transverse strength layer (6, 7). The edges of successive coated abrasive belt portions are adhesively bonded directly to one another by the use of a recess formed at least in the transverse strength layer. Adhesive bonding takes places one a connecting face (10) which runs approximately in the longitudinal direction and which reaches at least near to the longitudinal strength layer (4, 5). One of the two portions (2) carries the grain layer (14) on its longitudinal strength layer (4) and the other carries it on its transverse strength layer (7).

Abstract: Lofty, low density nonwoven pads and a process for the manufacture of such pads are described. The pads of the invention each comprise a bundle of discontinuous fibers bonded to one another at their mutual points of contact. The fibers are arranged within the bundle to provide a dense longitudinal central portion extending to opposite ends of the bundle, less dense side portions, a longitudinal tensile strength and a transverse tensile strength, wherein the longitudinal tensile strength is greater than the transverse tensile strength. The pads are made according to a process comprising forming a tow of discontinuous fibers so that the fibers are arranged within the tow to extend along a first axis, twisting the tow along the first axis to form a slubbed tow, bonding the fibers to one another at their mutual contact points and cutting the slubbed tow into scouring pads and the like.

Abstract: The present invention is a polishing pad for use in chemical-mechanical planarization of semiconductor wafers, and a method for making the polishing pad. The polishing pad has a body, molecular bonding links, and abrasive particles dispersed substantially uniformly throughout the body. The body is made from a polymeric matrix material and the molecular bonding links are covalently bonded to the matrix material. Substantially all of the abrasive particles are covalently bonded to at least one molecular bonding link. The molecular bonding links securely affix the abrasive particles to the matrix material to enhance the uniformity, of the distribution of the abrasive particles throughout the pad and to substantially prevent the abrasive particles from breaking away from the pad.

Abstract: A coated abrasive backing consisting of an endless, seamless, loop is provided. The backing loop includes about 40-99% by weight of an organic polymeric binder, based upon the weight of the backing; and an effective amount of a fibrous reinforcing material engulfed within the organic polymeric binder material. The endless, seamless backing loop includes a length with parallel side edges, and at least one layer of fibrous reinforcing material engulfed within the organic polymeric binder material such that there are regions of organic binder material free of fibrous reinforcing material on opposite surfaces of the layer of fibrous reinforcing material. The fibrous reinforcing material can be in the form of individual fibrous strands, a fibrous mat structure, or a combination of the these. A method for preparing the endless, seamless backing loop for a coated abrasive belt is also provided.

Abstract: A coated abrasive backing material is provided which is suitable for heavy duty grinding applications is provided by a continuous solid resin matrix having dispersed therein an essentially isotropic fibrous web. The invention also provides a coated abrasive based on said backing.

Abstract: A coated abrasive backing consisting of an endless, seamless, loop is provided. The backing loop includes about 40-99% by weight of an organic polymeric binder, based upon the weight of the backing; and an effective amount of a fibrous reinforcing material engulfed within the organic polymeric binder material. The endless, seamless backing loop includes a length with parallel side edges, and at least one layer of fibrous reinforcing material engulfed within the organic polymeric binder material such that there are regions of organic binder material free of fibrous reinforcing material on opposite surfaces of the layer of fibrous reinforcing material. The fibrous reinforcing material can be in the form of individual fibrous strands, a fibrous mat structure, or a combination of the these. A method for preparing the endless, seamless backing loop for a coated abrasive belt is also provided.

Abstract: A coated abrasive article having a backing comprising a sufficient amount of an electrically conductive material therein to reduce the buildup of static electricity during the use of the article. In another aspect, a method of making the same is taught.

Abstract: An abrasive flap brush including a central core, a layer of adhesive disposed on the peripheral surface of the core by a coater, and a plurality of abrasive flaps adhered to the core by the adhesive. The adhesive is uniformly distributed around the core by providing either the core or the adhesive coater with spacing projections that maintain a predetermined minimum distance between the coater and the core when the adhesive is applied. A coater including the spacing projections is also disclosed, as is a method for making an abrasive flap brush.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a polishing pad useful for polishing a semiconductor-comprising substrate is disclosed. The polishing pad is constructed to include conduits which pass through at least a portion of and preferably through the entire thickness of the polishing pad. The conduits, preferably tubulars, are constructed from a first material which is different from a second material used as a support matrix. The conduits are positioned within the support matrix such that the longitudinal centerline of the conduit forms an angle ranging from about 60.degree. to about 120.degree. with the working surface of the polishing pad.

Abstract: A composite polyester/viscose spun yarn comprising polyester fibers and viscose fibers, fabrics comprising the polyester/viscose spun yarns, and a method of making the same are taught. The fabric is useful as a backing for coated abrasive articles.

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: The invention relates to a polishing element for use in a system and apparatus and a method for finishing and polishing a dental composite restorative material in a tooth. The system of the invention uses an elastomeric polymer disc which is impregnated with an abrasive for reduction of the composite, and an element for polishing the composite as well as the dental materials. A method of using the above apparatus in a finishing/polishing system is also provided.