Technical information for Fibratex non-woven surface finishing products includes:
- Abrasives
- Grits
- Densities
- Fiber Sizing
- Bonding Agents
- Conventional Finishing Methods vs Fibratex Products Chart
Most Fibratex products consist of a non-woven web of nylon fibers, impregnated throughout with abrasive grain and bonded with synthetic resins. This design produces a cushioned, three-dimensional material that is extremely pliable and long lasting.
The uniform dispersion of abrasive throughout the web provides a continuous supply of new grain as the old grain and fibers wear away during use.
Fibratex products, with their open mesh construction, are waterproof, washable, resilient, conformable, non-loading, non-conductive, non-metallic, and non-rusting. Fibratex wheels are easily pre-formed to conform to special-shaped workpieces.
Since Fibratex products are designed for use where stock removal is not required, they begin where other abrasives leave off. The relatively non-aggressive nature of nylon and grit inherent in the Fibratex material makes it ideal as a finishing tool. While 60 to 80 grit are considered intermediate sizes in other products, they are considered coarse for Fibratex items.
Used wet or dry, Fibratex products offer the following advantages:
- Controlled cut without stock removal
- Consistent, uniform finish
- Minimized smearing and discoloration of the workpiece (heat is dissipated through the open mesh of the product)
- Increased production; time savings
- Ability to automate operations
- Reduced operator training
- Less maintenance required
- Greater safety than other methods
- Conformability to irregular surfaces
These advantages make Fibratex products excellent alternatives to bristle brushes, set-up wheels, greaseless compounds and steel wool.
Abrasives
Silicon carbide or aluminum oxide abrasives are available. Silicon carbide is sharper, cuts faster, and produces finer scratch patterns on most surfaces. Aluminum oxide is more durable and tends to last longer, produces less discoloration on aluminum, and is more aggressive on certain applications such as hardened steel parts. Fibratex hand pads and rolls are available in a non-abrasive material.
Grits
Grit refers to the size of the abrasive grain impregnated into the nylon web. Use of large particles results in more aggressive cut and a coarser finish. Small size particles produce fine surface finishes, if all other conditions are equal.
| GRIT DESIGNATIONS | COMPARABLE GRIT SIZE |
| Extra Coarse (XC) | 24 – 36 |
| Coarse (C) | 50 – 80 |
| Medium (M) | 100 – 150 |
| Fine (F) | 180 – 220 |
| Very Fine (VF) | 240 – 360 |
| Super Fine (SF) | 400 |
| Ultra Fine (UF) | 600 |
| Micro Fine (MF) | 800 – 1200 |
Densities
The product "density" refers to the number of fibers which have been compressed into the nylon web material. Under identical conditions, harder (closed) density wheels cut faster, last longer, and produce finer finishes than softer (more open) density wheels. Softer density wheels offer greater conformability and have less tendency to load or burn the workpiece.
Fiber Sizing
Several nylon fiber sizes (the denier) are used in the manufacture of Fibratex web material because the fiber size is a significant factor in the coating process, as each produces distinct cutting characteristics.
As the intended applications for the specific item determines the fiber size used, the denier is not an optional ingredient and, therefore, is not included in the product offering specifications.
Bonding Agents
Waterproof resins are used in the manufacture of Fibratex web material to bond the nylon fibers together and to firmly anchor the abrasive grains throughout the web. A variety of resins are utilized in order to obtain the required softness, hardness, toughness, flexibility and other characteristics required of the finished product.
As the intended applications for the specific Fibratex item determine the resin type, the resin is not an optional ingredient and, therefore, is not included in the product offering specifications.