Abrasives in Dubai

Abrasives

Abrasives are minerals or materials used to finish or to shape a workpiece, abrading away parts of an object to shape a final product. Although finishing a product usually refers to polishing or coating a product, it could also refer to providing a rough, matte or beaded finish. The term “Abrasive” is extremely general and include various types, used in a wide variety of technological, industrial and domestic applications. Although abrasives consist of large variations, like physical and chemical compositions, shape and size, they are commonly used for polishing, honing, drilling, lapping, grinding, buffing, cutting, sharpening, and sanding.

All abrasives are of two major types, natural and artificial. Natural occurring abrasives include Diamonds, Emery, Pumice, Sandstone, Diatomaceous earth and Tripoli, Corundum, Granet, Quartz, Flint, and Calcium Carbonate. These minerals are naturally formed and are used as abrasives in the production of various products. Artificial or synthetic abrasives like fused alumina, boron carbide, silicon carbide, steel abrasive, glass powder, dry ice, and calcium carbide are specially synthesized and manufactured as industrial-grade abrasives. Choosing the best abrasive or cutting material depends mainly on the hardness and chemical microstructure of the abrasive.

Bonded abrasives are composed of an abrasive material contained within a matrix or a binder like clay, glass resin or rubber. This mixture of abrasives and binders are shaped into blocks, discs or sticks, each with their own applications and uses. A few examples of these are grinding wheels, spiral bands, cutting wheels, and quick charge sanding discs. Coated Abrasives refer to abrasive materials fixed to a backing material like paper, cloth, metal polyester, or rubber. These abrasives are usually flexible, the most common of which is sandpaper. Coated abrasives also include other types, such as the striking surface on a matchbox, diamond cutting tools, belt grinders and so on.

Abrasives in Dubai are used for various applications and in various industries, from carpentry to jewelry making. Apart from finishing and shaping, abrasives are used to cut glass, prepare surfaces for the application of paint, adhesives or finishing materials, bicycle tyre repairs, refurbishing furniture, etc.. There are many manufacturers and supplier of world-class abrasives and hardware across the emirates. Some of these outlets can be found near Nakheel centre and hardware market in Deira and International City in Dubai.