Precision Surfaces International

Polishing Paper

Polishing Paper is a special applications product available from PSI. This wet or dry use material, manufactured by the 3M Company, is a resin bonded abrasive coated on a 7 mil thick non-woven synthetic backing. The abrasive minerals are closely graded and specified by the more accurate micron grading system. Polishing Paper Discs are available with silicon carbide abrasive in 30 and 15 micron grade, and aluminum oxide in 9, 3 and 1 micron. Because of the "soft" resin bonding system used on this product, it is not a long lasting product. Used in the proper applications, however, its excellent polishing properties will make it an economical alternative.

Polishing Paper is available in the usual forms common to popular met lab equipment. This includes 8" and 12" diameter discs, 3", 3 7/16", and 4" rolls, and 8.5" by 11" sheets. The discs are available with either a Plain Backing (PB) or with Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) backing.

Polishing Paper performs well on a variety of materials, the common element being those with mixed hardness. One customer reports excellent results on titanium implants, ceramic coated and bonded to human bone. Another customer has had favorable results on a powder metallurgy product involving high speed steel powder on an aluminum substrate. The same customer has also used PSI Polishing Paper on an aluminum/bronze powder alloy on an aluminum substrate. Both customers report previous problems with particle pull-out when using conventional grinding/polishing processes.

Polishing Paper is supplied by other companies in our field only in the 15 micron silicon carbide product as "grit 600 soft cut" in discs, 4" rolls and 9"x11" sheets. If you have used this 600 grit soft cut successively in the one grade, a trial of the other grades available from PSI is warranted. PSI supplies Polishing Paper in every grade manufactured by 3M in all popular laboratory forms and backings.

3M has recentl introduced a new rade of Polishing Paper, a 1 micron. As of the writing of this Product Data Sheet, our evaluation of this product has not been completed. Samples, however, will soon be available. Call PSI and we will send you the requested samples as soon as they are available.

If your work involves sample preparation of relatively softer materials with mixed hardness portions, you should try PSI Polishing Paper. A sample package including one of each micron grade is available from PSI. Contact us for a free sample package of the appropriate specification to fit your equipment.