3M Cubitron coated 777F sanding belt uses ceramic as the abrasive material. 3M incorporates this ceramic material into the sanding belt forming a grit of P120. This particular 3M sanding belt is 1/2 in wide by 12 in long. This abrasive is on a cloth backing, YF weight.
Specifications:Abrasive Type: Coated
Coat Type: Closed Coat
Specification parameters description:Abrasive Material:
Values: A/O Aluminum Oxide AO A/Z Alumina Zirconia AZ S/C Silicon Carbide SC Alumina Zirconia Alumina zirconia is very dense and can be used under high temperatures for heavy-duty stock removal, wood planing, and grinding of fiberglass and plastics. The abrasive grain is designed to fracture during use so that it maintains sharpness. Aluminum Oxide Aluminum oxide is an artificial abrasive suited for general purpose stock removal and finishing. It is the mostly commonly used abrasive and can be used for most steels and ferrous alloys. Aluminum oxide is slightly softer but tougher than silicon carbide. Aluminum Oxide / Ceramic Aluminum Silicate Aluminum silicate is a synthetic abrasive used mainly for cleaning steel, nonferrous materials, and stonework. CBN Cubic boron nitride (CBN) is a synthetic material used in superabrasive products. It is similar in hardness to diamond and is very cool cutting. CBN is used for grinding high speed steel (HSS), hardened cast iron, and stainless steel. Cloth Ceramic Ceramic is used for aggressive cutting and grinding of stainless steel, titanium, and metal alloys. The abrasive grain is designed to fracture during use so that it maintains sharpness. Cerium Oxide Cerium oxide is used for fine polishing and lapping of glass, gemstones, optical mirrors, and lenses. It should be used wet or in slurry form. Chromium Oxide Chromium oxide is a natural abrasive used for applications requiring extremely fine grit, such as lapping. Diamond Diamond can be either natural or manufactured and is one of the hardest abrasive materials. It is commonly used for grinding and polishing stone and very hard steels, and for sharpening other cutting tools. Garnet Garnet is a medium-hard mineral abrasive used for fine finishing, especially on soft woods. Garnet is not as durable as synthetic abrasives. Nylon Silicon Carbide Silicon carbide is a manufactured material that is extremely hard but brittle. It is commonly used for fast cutting under light pressure, particularly on cast iron, nonferrous metals, and materials such as glass and plastic. Silicon Dioxide Silicon dioxide is a natural mineral typically used for fine finishing and lapping, and in the final step of polishing fiber optic connectors. Talc Talc is a very soft natural mineral used for cleaning and polishing. Zirconia Zirconium Ceramic Aluminum Oxide
Backing Weight:
Paper and cloth have a lettering scale for backing weight that measures strength of the material onto which the abrasive is mounted. Paper uses the letters A-F, where A is a lighter weight and most flexible and F represents a rigid, heavier backing. Lighter backings are typically paired with finer abrasive grits, suitable for blending and finishing. Coarser grits used for deburring and stock removal rely on a heavier backing. Cloth uses a lettering system of J, X, and Y for backing weight. J weight (jeans) is the lightest and most flexible, X weight (drills) is more durable and recommended for medium duty work, and Y weight is the toughest and least flexible. Fiber backings are made from chemically-impregnated paper to form a very hard, strong backing material. Fiber is used primarily for sanding discs. Polyester film backing provides high strength with a very thin backing and is used for very fine grits. It is more tear resistant than paper backing and is also waterproof.
Coat Type:
Coated abrasives can have a closed, semi-open, or open coat type. Closed coat sheets have 100% of their backing covered in abrasive grains. They are the most aggressive but produce finer finishes. A semi-open coated sheet will have about 70% grain coverage, while open coat is usually around 50% coverage. These coat types cut less aggressively but also produce a coarser finish because of the grain gaps.
Grade:
Grade is a measurement of the size of abrasive particles embedded in coated abrasives. It is a more general measurement of the level of precision, and corresponds roughly to grit. A smaller grit number means larger particles and a coarser grade, while high number grits are used for finer work.
Grit:
Grit is a measurement of the size of abrasive particles embedded in coated abrasives. The most common standards for grit size are the United States CAMI (Coated Abrasive Manufacturers Institute) and the European FEPA (Federation of European Producers of Abrasives). A smaller grit number means larger particles and a coarser grade, while high number grits are used for finer work. Grit is generally a unitless measure but is sometimes measured in microns.