Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
  • B24D—TOOLS FOR GRINDING, BUFFING OR SHARPENING
  • B24D11/00—Constructional features of flexible abrasive materials; Special features in the manufacture of such materials
  • B24D11/04—Zonally-graded surfaces
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
  • B24D—TOOLS FOR GRINDING, BUFFING OR SHARPENING
  • B24D11/00—Constructional features of flexible abrasive materials; Special features in the manufacture of such materials
  • B24D11/008—Finishing manufactured abrasive sheets, e.g. cutting, deforming
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
  • B24D—TOOLS FOR GRINDING, BUFFING OR SHARPENING
  • B24D11/00—Constructional features of flexible abrasive materials; Special features in the manufacture of such materials
  • B24D11/02—Backings, e.g. foils, webs, mesh fabrics
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
  • B41M5/267—Marking of plastic artifacts, e.g. with laser

Definitions

• the present disclosure broadly relates to coated abrasive articles and methods of ablating them.
• Coated abrasive articles generally have an abrasive layer, comprising abrasive particles and one or more binders, secured to a major surface of a backing.
• an additional coating called a supersize, typically including a grinding aid, is included over the abrasive layer.
• the backing and/or abrasive layer may include more than one layer.
• the backing may be a laminate backing, optionally having one or more backing treatments thereon.
• the abrasive layer may include a make layer and abrasive particles embedded in the make layer and covered by a size layer which helps retain the abrasive particles.
• abrasive particles are dispersed more or less evenly throughout a polymeric binder.
• the abrasive layer is formed of shaped abrasive composites, typically having a predetermined shape (e.g., a precise shape) and arrangement on the backing.
• Such abrasives are typically prepared by coating a slurry of a corresponding binder precursor and abrasive particles on a tool having shaped cavities, laminating a backing to the tool, curing the binder precursor to form shaped abrasive composites secured to the backing, and then removing the tool.
• infrared lasers such as, for example, carbon dioxide (i.e., CO2) lasers operating at a wavelength of 10.6 micrometers to convert coated abrasive roll goods into sheets and/or discs suitable for sale to consumers.
• CO2 carbon dioxide
• this converting method i.e., perforating and/or cutting by infrared laser-induced ablation
• adhesive-backed coated abrasives can lead to edge contamination by the adhesive resulting in difficulty in peeling off the associated release liner. Additionally, pieces of adhesive may become lodged at the interface between the abrasive layer and the workpiece, potentially creating scratches.
• the CO 2 laser produces a beam of long wave infrared (LWIR) light with the principal wavelength centered between 9.2 and 12 micrometers and tunable within this range.
• Average output power of CO2 lasers is typically highest at 10.6 micrometers and declines when tuned to other wavelengths. Accordingly, the vast majority of commercial CO2 laser processing is done at a single wavelength, 10.6 micrometers.
• infrared laser converting can result in hardened, raised, and/or sharp edges being formed in the abrasive layer adjacent to cuts and perforations made by the laser. These hardened edges can also adversely affect the performance of the coated abrasive.
• infrared laser ablating can result in the abrasive particles becoming covered with melted supersize thereby reducing anti-loading performance of the supersize and potentially inducing scratches on the abraded surface.
• the present disclosure provides solutions to the above-mentioned deficiencies by recognizing that the problems during infrared laser ablating result from excessive heat generation relative to ablation (i.e., vaporization) of the coated abrasive article.
• the present disclosure provides methods for increasing the rate of ablation (and hence processing efficiency) while reducing the amount of associated heat generation. In general, this is accomplished by using a laser wavelength that is appropriately matched to the absorption profile of the material in the coated abrasive to be ablated.
• the method further comprises:
• a second infrared laser beam having a second wavelength different than the first wavelength, wherein the second wavelength is matched to a second absorbance band of the second absorption spectrum, wherein the second component has a second absorbance at the second wavelength of at least 0.01 per micrometer of thickness of the second component;
• the present disclosure provides a method comprising:
• a coated abrasive article comprising abrasive particles secured by at least one binder to a first major surface of a backing
• first infrared laser beam having a first wavelength
• the coated abrasive article has a first component with a first absorbance at the first wavelength of at least 0.01 per micrometer of thickness of the first component; ablating a portion of the first component with the first infrared laser beam;
• the coated abrasive article has a second component with a second absorbance at the second wavelength of at least 0.01 per micrometer of thickness of the second component;
• the first infrared laser beam has a first average power of at least 60 watts and a first average beam intensity, wherein the first infrared laser beam is focused to a first spot where the first infrared laser beam contacts the coated abrasive article, wherein a total of all portions of the first spot having an intensity of at least half of the first average beam intensity has an area of less than or equal to 0.3 square millimeters, and wherein the first spot traces a first path on the coated abrasive article at a first rate, relative to the coated abrasive article, of at least 10 millimeters per second.
• the second infrared laser beam has a second average power of at least 60 watts and a second average beam intensity, wherein the second infrared laser beam is focused to a second spot where the second infrared laser beam contacts the coated abrasive article, wherein a total of all portions of the second spot having an intensity of at least half of the second average beam intensity has an area of less than or equal to 0.3 square millimeters, and wherein the second spot traces a second path on the coated abrasive article at a second rate, relative to the coated abrasive article, of at least 10 millimeters per second.
• the second spot traces a second path superposed on the first path.
• the second component comprises at least a portion of the at least one binder.
• the first component comprises at least a portion of the backing.
• the abrasive particles have an average particle diameter in a range of from 3 to 30 micrometers.
• the first infrared laser beam is a pulsed laser beam.
• the coated abrasive article further comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer disposed on a second major surface of the backing opposite the first major surface.
• the present disclosure provides a coated abrasive article comprising: an abrasive layer secured to a backing, wherein the abrasive layer comprises abrasive particles secured by at least one binder to a first major surface of the backing; and a supersize disposed on at least a portion of the abrasive layer, wherein the coated abrasive article has a melt flow zone adjacent to an edge of the coated abrasive article, wherein the melt flow zone has a maximum width of less than 100 micrometers, and wherein the melt flow zone has a maximum height of less than 40 micrometers.
• the melt flow zone has a maximum width of less than 80 micrometers, and the melt flow zone has a maximum height of less than 15 micrometers.
• the abrasive layer comprises make and size layers.
• the abrasive layer comprises a plurality of shaped abrasive composites.
• the melt flow zone is caused by an infrared laser beam.
• coated abrasive articles ablated according to the present disclosure have little or no problem with adhesive residue as is often seen using conventional laser converting methods as practiced in the coated abrasives art. Further, coated abrasive articles ablated according to the present disclosure generally exhibit reduced adverse scratches caused by hardened residue near edges of the coated abrasive article as is also often seen using conventional laser ablating methods as practiced in the coated abrasives art.
• ablating means removing by laser-induced vaporization
• absorbance refers to the capacity of a substance to absorb electromagnetic radiation, expressed as the common logarithm of the reciprocal of the transmittance
• edge in reference to a coated abrasive article refers to a surface that connects opposed major surfaces of a coated abrasive article; for example, at a periphery or adjacent a perforation;
• infrared refers to electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range of from 760 nanometers to one millimeter.
• FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary coated abrasive article according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary coated abrasive article according to the present invention
• FIGS. 3 A - 3B are electron micrographs of a comparative coated abrasive article prepared using a CO2 laser operating at a wavelength of 10.6 micrometers;
• FIGS. 4A - 4B are electron micrographs of an exemplary coated abrasive article according to the present disclosure prepared using a CO2 laser operating at a wavelength of 9.3 micrometers .
• Coated abrasive articles generally comprise abrasive particles secured by at least one binder to a first major surface of a backing.
• exemplary coated abrasive article 100 comprises backing 110.
• Abrasive layer 114 is secured to first major surface 115 of backing 110, and comprises make coat 116 in which abrasive particles 118 are embedded and size coat 117 which overlays make coat 116 and abrasive particles 118.
• Optional supersize 119 overlays size coat 117.
• Melt flow zone 130a is disposed adjacent peripheral edge 132 and melt flow zone 130b is adjacent perforation 134.
• Optional pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 160 is disposed on a second major surface 125 of backing 110 opposite first major surface 115.
• Optional release liner 170 is disposed on optional pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 160.
• the abrasive particles are dispersed throughout a binder secured to a backing.
• Such coated abrasive articles may have a desired topography imparted to the abrasive surface.
• the abrasive layer may comprise shaped abrasive composites, which in some embodiments are precisely-shaped, secured to the backing. Structured abrasive articles fall in this category.
• a coated abrasive article 200 (a structured abrasive article) has an abrasive layer 214 that comprises shaped abrasive composites 220 secured to first major surface 215 of backing 210.
• Shaped abrasive composites 220 comprise abrasive particles 218 dispersed in binder 250.
• Optional supersize 219 overlays abrasive layer 214.
• Melt flow zone 230a is disposed adjacent peripheral edge 232 and melt flow zone 230b is adjacent perforation 234.
• Optional pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 260 is disposed on a second major surface 225 of backing 210 opposite first major surface 215.
• Optional release liner 270 is disposed on optional pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 260.
• coated abrasive articles may have abrasive particles of practically any size, but in the case of the coated abrasive articles shown in FIG. 2, the abrasive particles typically have small particle sizes.
• coated abrasive particles according to the present disclosure may have abrasive particles with an average particle diameter in a range of from at least 3 to 30 micrometers. In such cases, it is especially desirable to keep the height of any melt flow zone smaller than the average particle diameter of the abrasive particles and/or shaped abrasive composites, lest they have reduced abrading efficacy.
• Coated abrasive articles according to the present invention can be converted, for example, into belts, tapes, rolls, discs (including perforated discs), and/or sheets.
• two free ends of the abrasive sheet may be joined together using known methods to form a spliced belt.
• each component of the coated abrasive article will typically have a distinct infrared absorption spectrum. Accordingly, the ability of each component to absorb infrared radiation supplied by a laser will vary, possibly drastically from
• PET polyethylene terephthalate
• PET polyester a common backing material
• PET exhibits substantially baseline absorption (i.e., little infrared radiation is absorbed) at a wavelength of 10.6 micrometers, the typical CO2 laser processing wavelength, but has a substantial absorption band covering the wavelength range of from about 9 to 9.3 micrometers, and it also has a weaker absorption band at wavelengths of about 9.8 micrometers.
• component refers to one or more adjoining elements that form a portion of a coated abrasive article; for example, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer or a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer in combination with a release liner and a backing.
• one or more of the various components of the coated abrasive article may contain an infrared absorbing material.
• an infrared absorbing material For example, carbon black and/or another infrared absorber can be included in the adhesive layer, resins/binders, or backing to increase infrared absorption at a particular wavelength. This may be particularly useful in the case of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene.
• PET polyethylene terephthalate
• the coated abrasive article may be configured such that its constituent parts are arranged by melting temperature or by absorbance at a given infrared wavelength.
• the absorption spectrum should generally include at least some portion of the infrared spectrum in order to match the frequency of the infrared laser to an infrared absorbance band, but it need not include the entire infrared spectrum, and it may optionally contain one or more regions of the electromagnetic spectrum at shorter and/or longer wavelengths.
• Absorption spectra for a wide number of materials are known and catalogued in standard reference works.
• absorption spectra for materials not otherwise available can be readily obtained using an infrared spectrometer according to standard techniques.
• Useful infrared spectrometers include scanning and Fourier
• Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometers may measure absorbance by, for example, transmission and/or reflection techniques.
• Infrared laser(s) should be chosen such that they operate at a wavelength where the component(s) of the coated abrasive article has/have an absorbance of at least 0.01 per micrometer of thickness of the components, more typically 0.1 per micrometer of thickness, or even at least one per micrometer of the components.
• the infrared laser may be chosen to operate in a range of from 9.3 to 9.6 micrometers where absorption is typically strong, while in the case of polypropylene, the infrared laser may be chosen to operate in a range of from about 10.28 to 10.3 micrometers.
• the infrared laser(s) may be tunable or fixed wavelength, and/or pulsed or continuous wave (CW).
• Examples of infrared lasers of sufficient power to ablate material include carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers.
• Other lasers operating in the infrared wavelength range include, for example, solid state crystal lasers (e.g., ruby, Nd/YAG), chemical lasers, carbon monoxide laser, fiber lasers, and solid state laser diodes.
• pulsed infrared lasers e.g., including ultrafast pulsed lasers
• CO2 lasers are the second cheapest source of infrared laser photons after diode lasers, and are substantially cheaper than ultraviolet laser alternatives.
• the infrared laser beam(s) used in practice of the present disclosure typically has an average power of at least 60 watts (W); for example 70 W, 80 W, or 90 W or more.
• a cross-section of the infrared laser beam (i.e., spot size) at a substrate to be cut is desirably very small, typically with an area.
• the infrared laser beam may be focused to a spot (where the infrared laser beam contacts the coated abrasive article) such that a total of all portions of the spot, having an intensity of at least half of the average beam intensity, has an area of less than or equal to
• mm ⁇ 0.3 square millimeters (mm ⁇ ), less than about 0.1 mm ⁇ , or even less than 0.01 mm% although smaller and larger spot sizes may also be used.
• trace rates i.e., the rate at which the beam is scanned across a substrate
• mm/sec millimeters per second
• Laser ablating of the coated abrasive article may be achieved using a single trace of a laser beam or multiple superposed traces. Multiple laser beams may be used simultaneously or sequentially. If multiple laser beams are used, they may have the same or different wavelengths.
• individual components of a coated abrasive article are sequentially removed using infrared laser beams, each tuned to an absorbance band of a respective component (e.g., the backing and the abrasive layer).
• individual components of a coated abrasive article are simultaneously removed using multiple infrared laser beams tuned to an absorbance band of separate components of the coated abrasive article (e.g., the backing and the abrasive layer).
• Additional infrared lasers may also be used; for example, if additional components are present. If multiple infrared laser beams are used, their traces should typically be superposed to achieve maximum benefit, although this is not a requirement.
• Absorption of the laser beam may be single-photon or multiphoton absorption. Typically, the absorption is single photon absorption.
• Infrared laser ablation may be carried out such that it does not completely penetrate the coated abrasive article, though most typically it cuts completely through. Further, Infrared laser ablation may be carried out from any direction (e.g., from the front
• typical coated abrasive articles ablated according to the present disclosure are less prone to formation of melt flow features on the exposed surface of the abrasive layer than if ablated using a CO2 laser operating at 10.6 micrometers as is current industry practice.
• FIGS. 3A - 4B show perforated coated abrasive discs as viewed from their abrasive surface sides.
• FIGS. 4A - 4B show results of perforating an identical coated abrasive article using the same CO2 laser conditions except that the laser was tuned to a wavelength of 9.3 micrometers (Example 1).
• the laser beam impinged on the looped side of the abrasive disc and ablated through to the disc and exited on the abrasive layer side.
• FIGS. 3 A - 3B it is apparent that the size of melt flow zone 330 formed on for Comparative Example A is substantially larger and more raised than melt flow zone 430 of Example 1 shown in corresponding FIGS. 4 A - 4B.
• melt flow zones may have a maximum width of less than 100 micrometers, less than 80 micrometers or even less than 50 micrometers, and a maximum height of less than 40 micrometers, less than 15 micrometers or even less than 5 micrometers.
• This may be particularly important for fine grit sizes such as, for example, those coated abrasive discs with a zinc stearate supersize and an abrasive particle size of P800 to P1500 as the abrasive particles may be smaller than raised features of the melt flow zones, leading to wild scratches.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Polishing Bodies And Polishing Tools (AREA)
• Laser Beam Processing (AREA)

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Citations (25)

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• 2010
  • 2010-07-23 WO PCT/US2010/042998 patent/WO2011017022A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2010-07-23 US US13/377,743 patent/US9033765B2/en active Active
  • 2010-07-23 JP JP2012522914A patent/JP2013500869A/ja active Pending
  • 2010-07-23 EP EP10806848.7A patent/EP2459343B1/en active Active
  • 2010-07-23 CN CN201080031474.2A patent/CN102470511B/zh active Active
• 2015
  • 2015-03-03 JP JP2015041382A patent/JP5855300B2/ja active Active

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