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alumina
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The natural form of aluminum oxide.
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aluminum oxide
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An abrasive made by fusing bauxite, iron, and coke that is widely used to grind ferrous materials. The natural form is called corundum.
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American National Standards Institute
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A private, non-profit organization that administers and coordinates voluntary standards and systems.
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arc furnace
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A heating unit that uses electric arcs between carbon electrodes to melt steel and manufacture abrasives. Also called an electric arc furnace.
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bauxite
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A form of aluminum oxide that contains several impurities.
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bond
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The "glue" or adhesive material that holds abrasive grains together in a grinding wheel. Bonds may be vitrified, organic, metal, or electroplated.
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carbide
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A compound developed by the combination of carbon with usually tungsten, titanium, or tantalum that is used in metal cutting tools for its hardness and wear resistance.
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carbon steel
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The basic type of steel, which contains less than 3% of elements other than iron and carbon.
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cast iron
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A metal consisting of iron, over 2.11% carbon, and 1 to 3% silicon. Cast irons will normally contain trace amounts of other elements.
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ceramic aluminum oxide
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An exceptionally hard, strong, sharp abrasive made from a process in which alumina gel is dried and crushed. Ceramic aluminum oxide has the ability to refracture at the sub-micron level.
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chemical vapor deposition
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A method of manufacturing diamonds that uses heat and radio waves or microwaves to break a carbon-rich gas into pieces that reassemble themselves into diamond.
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coke
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The carbon-containing residue remaining from coal distillation.
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conventional abrasive
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One of several inexpensive abrasives of varying hardnesses commonly used in industry for material removal.
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cubic boron nitride
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The second-hardest substance after diamond. Cubic boron nitride (CBN) is manufactured in a high-heat, high-pressure sintering process.
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diamond
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The hardest known substance. Made from carbon, diamond is both a naturally occurring and manufactured abrasive.
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electroplated bond
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A superabrasive bond accomplished by immersing a metal wheel in an electrically charged chemical bath that contains metal particles.
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ferrous metal
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A metal containing iron.
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friability
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The ability of abrasive grains to fracture and self-sharpen under stress.
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grade
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The strength of the bond in an abrasive wheel.
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graphite
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A soft, black form of carbon. Graphite is used to manufacture diamonds.
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hardness
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The ability of a material to resist penetration and scratching.
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hexagonal boron nitride
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A boron-nitrogen compound that has a six-sided crystal structure.
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high-speed steel
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A tool steel used to machine metals at high cutting speeds. High-speed steel stays hard at high temperatures and resists abrasion.
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iron
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The fourth most abundant earth element. Iron is alloyed with carbon to make steel.
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kiln
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An oven or furnace used for heating or drying.
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lapping
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A precision abrasion process used to bring a surface to a desired state of finish or dimensional tolerance by removing an extremely small amount of material.
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manufactured abrasive
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A material of extreme hardness created through chemical and/or physical processes that is used to shape other materials by a grinding or abrading action.
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manufactured diamond
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The manufactured form of a carbon mineral that is the hardest substance known to man. It is manufactured through a high-heat, high-pressure process.
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metal bond
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A bonding material used most often with superabrasive grinding wheels.
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micron
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A measurement equal to one twenty-fifth of a thousandth of an inch (0.00004 inch).
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natural abrasive
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A hard material found in the earth that is used to shape other materials by grinding or abrading. Sand and quartz are both natural abrasives.
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natural diamond
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The mined form of a carbon mineral that is the hardest substance known to man.
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nonferrous
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A material that does not contain iron. Aluminum, copper, and zinc are nonferrous metals.
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organic bond
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An abrasive bonding material that contains carbon. Organic bonds tend to soften with heating.
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porosity
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The relative number of openings or voids in a material.
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porous
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Having many openings or voids.
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post
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A structural beam that connects abrasive grains in a bonded abrasive grinding wheel.
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resinoid bond
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An organic bond made of synthetic resin.
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roll
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Long, cylindrical metal parts used in mills that make paper, sheet metal, and other similar products.
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rubber bond
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An organic bond made of natural or synthetic rubber.
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shellac bond
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An organic bond made of shellac, a material secreted on the bark of trees by an insect that has ingested tree sap.
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silicon carbide
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A hard, brittle abrasive made by firing a mixture of quartz, petroleum coke, and small amounts of sawdust and salt in an electric furnace. Silicon carbide is known for its green color.
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sintering
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The pressing and heating of powdered materials close to their melting point to create a solid shape. Sintering creates materials with very uniform contents.
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steel
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A metal consisting of iron and carbon, usually with small amounts of manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, and silicon as well.
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sub-micron
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A measurement less than one twenty-fifth of a thousandth of an inch (0.00004 inch).
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superabrasive
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One of a group of relatively expensive but effective materials possessing superior hardness and abrasion resistance. Superabrasives include cubic boron nitride and diamond.
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superalloy
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A metal alloy consisting of three or more elements that is very expensive and designed to exhibit high strength at elevated temperatures.
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vitrified bond
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A clay-like abrasive bond that is generally hard and brittle.
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void
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The space or pore between abrasive grains and posts on a bonded abrasive grinding wheel.
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wrought iron
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A tough, malleable, and relatively soft form of iron containing less than 0.3 percent carbon.
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zirconia alumina
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A type of tough, large-grain abrasive made from aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide. Often used in cutoff operations.
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zirconium oxide
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A toxic, heavy, white powder used to manufacture zirconia alumina.
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