GRINDING STONE AND CONCRETE WITH COATED ABRASIVES

Silicon carbide coated abrasives grind stone or concrete most efficiently when run dry and at high speeds. This high energy process appears to heat the surface layer of the workpiece to temperatures which make chip formation easy. However, neither the ground surface of the workpiece nor the coated abrasive is thermally damaged to any significant degree. Dry dust collection may be an attractive alternative to the removal of wet debris in water lubricated operations. Brick for construction or for refractory applications could possibly be ground by this method. Prefabricated terrazzo made with either polymeric or inorganic grouts are also candidates for dimensioning and finishing by this process. A great many other applications may exist which could be carried out with suitably designed equipment. These include the large scale grinding of roads, bridge abutments, airport runways and concrete walls, the texturing of road surfaces for skid resistance, and the removal of traffic marking paints.