Shaped Abrasive Particles with Sloping Sidewalls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing abrasive particles and articles lack optimal performance and longevity, particularly in terms of cut rates and uniformity, due to their random shapes and orientations.

Innovation Solution

The development of shaped abrasive particles with sloping sidewalls, featuring draft angles between 95 degrees to 130 degrees, which allows for enhanced orientation and distribution in coated abrasive articles, resulting in improved cut rates and uniform cutting performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If triangular shaped abrasive particles are used, then cut rates are enhanced, but the particles lack uniform orientation and distribution in coated abrasive articles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecut ratesVSAvoidparticle orientation uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by giving the triangular abrasive particles non-uniform sidewall angles (e.g., 95°, 100°, 105°) instead of equal angles. This asymmetric geometry causes particles to orient themselves at different angles when applied to the backing, creating a more uniform distribution of cutting orientations and improving overall cutting performance consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by varying the sidewall angles at different locations of the triangular particle. Each sidewall has a specific angle optimized for its function, with steeper angles (95-100°) providing better orientation control and shallower angles (105-110°) providing structural stability, creating locally optimized properties throughout the particle structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If shaped abrasive particles with steep sidewalls are used, then particle orientation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle orientationVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the sidewall angle within a specific range (95° to 110°) rather than using extreme values. This moderate angular range achieves sufficient orientation improvement while remaining compatible with conventional manufacturing processes, avoiding the need for complex specialized equipment or multi-step fabrication procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2373747B2Shaped abrasive particles with a sloping sidewall
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO
  • EP2373747B2 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP2373747B2 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2373747B2 patent drawingFigure 4A~4C

AI summary

Abrasive particles comprising shaped abrasive particles each having a sloping sidewall, each of the shaped abrasive particles comprising alpha alumina and having a first face and a second face separated by a thickness, t. The shaped abrasive particles further comprising either: a draft angle α between the second face and the sloping sidewall, and the draft angle α is between about 95 degrees to about 130 degrees, or the sloping sidewall having a radius, R, between the first face and the second face and the radius, R, is between about 0.5 to about 2 times the thickness, t.