Fiber-Reinforced Abrasive Wheel Composition for Crack Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing abrasive wheels face challenges in achieving high strength and fracture toughness while maintaining grinding performance, particularly due to issues with fiber reinforcement methods like chopped strand fibers, which are difficult to disperse and result in lower strength and incomplete adhesion with the matrix resin.

Innovation Solution

The use of discontinuous fibers, specifically chopped strand fibers (CSF), randomly distributed or formed as discrete layers within the abrasive body, along with optional continuous fiber reinforcement, to enhance the structural integrity and fracture properties of abrasive articles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If chopped strand fibers are used to reinforce grinding wheels, then the wheel strength and fracture toughness are improved, but the fibers are difficult to disperse and achieve incomplete adhesion with the matrix resin

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewheel strengthVSAvoidfiber dispersion uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A thermoplastic coating is applied as an intermediary layer on the chopped strand fibers before mixing with the resin matrix. This coating acts as a mediator that improves fiber-matrix adhesion and facilitates uniform dispersion of fibers throughout the grinding wheel composition, resolving the issue of incomplete adhesion and poor dispersion mentioned in the background.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the fiber surface by applying a thermoplastic coating. This modification alters the surface properties of the chopped strand fibers to enhance their compatibility with the resin matrix, improving both dispersion uniformity and adhesion while maintaining the reinforcement effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If chopped strand fibers are used to reinforce grinding wheels, then the wheel strength is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewheel strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The thermoplastic coating is applied to the chopped strand fibers as a preliminary action before the fibers are mixed into the grinding wheel composition. This pre-treatment simplifies the subsequent mixing and molding processes by ensuring uniform fiber distribution and proper adhesion, thereby reducing the overall manufacturing complexity despite the additional coating step.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If fiber reinforcement is added to prevent brittle failure, then the wheel reliability is improved, but the grinding performance may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewheel reliabilityVSAvoidgrinding performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by using chopped strand fibers with specific characteristics (length, diameter, coating) that are optimized for both reinforcement and grinding performance. The thermoplastic coating is applied locally to the fiber surfaces, creating a differentiated structure that maintains reliability while preserving grinding capabilities through proper fiber orientation and distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4159371B1Abrasive article
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 SAINT GOBAIN ABRASIVES INC
  • EP4159371B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4159371B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP4159371B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

An abrasive article includes an abrasive portion. The abrasive portion includes an organic bond and abrasive particles. The abrasive article includes a non-abrasive portion coupled to the abrasive portion. The non-abrasive portion includes molding compound. The non-abrasive portion includes no contents with a MOHS scale hardness greater than 9.