Efficient abrasives for stainless steel processing

The choice of the right abrasives is crucial for the successful processing of stainless steel. The abrasive grain is essentially the cutting tool. It penetrates the workpiece material and removes the chip. The abrasive grain is anchored on the abrasive backing. High hardness, toughness, and a sharp-edged shape are the most important properties of the abrasive grain. Early abrasive grain materials were natural substances (minerals) such as flint, emery, and garnet. Today, only synthetic abrasive grain materials are used for modern high-quality abrasives, including fused alumina, silicon carbide, zirconia alumina, and ceramic alumina. The grain size distribution is set by a FEPA standard (Federation of European Producers of Abrasives) which is considered in DIN and ISO standards: Today, almost only artificial abrasives are used for grinding stainless steels as these best meet the requirements of quality, consistency, and iron-free properties. The most commonly used abrasives are:

• Aluminum oxide (corundum Al₂O₃)
• Zirconia alumina (ZA)
• Silicon carbide (SiC)

However, modern ceramic abrasives are on the rise and are particularly popular for coarse applications due to their excellent properties. Zirconia alumina grains sharpen themselves and are therefore ideal for tough, hard materials like stainless steel. Aluminum oxide is preferred for long-chipping materials with higher tensile strength, while silicon carbide is better suited for short-chipping materials.