Abrasive filaments comprising abrasive-filled thermoplastic elastomer
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsRichard M. Pihl, Duane J. Hayes, Loren L. Barber, Jr., Dennis G. Welygan, R. Eugene Hardwick, Ronald O. Zemke, deceased
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Abstract
An abrasive filament, including a thermoplastic elastomer having abrasive particles dispersed and adhered therein, exhibits improved life over previously known abrasive-filled polymeric filaments. Methods of making abrasive filaments of the invention, articles including the abrasive filaments, and methods of abrading surfaces using the abrasive articles of the invention are also described.
Claims21
An extruded, unoriented abrasive filament comprising
- (a) said first elongate filament component having a continuous surface throughout its length and comprising a first hardened organic polymeric material;
- and
- (b) a second elongate filament component coterminous with said first elongate filament component, said second elongate filament component comprising of a second hardened organic polymeric material in melt fusion adherent contact with said first elongate filament component along said continuous surface, the second hardened organic polymeric material being the same or different than the first hardened organic polymeric material,
- wherein at least one of the first and second hardened organic polymeric materials comprises a thermoplastic elastomer, the thermoplastic elastomer having abrasive particles dispersed and adhered therein.
An abrasive filament comprising:
- (a) a core having a continuous surface throughout its length and consisting essentially of a first thermoplastic elastomer, the first thermoplastic elastomer having abrasive particles dispersed and adhered therein;
- and
- (b) a sheath coterminous with the core, the sheath consisting essentially of a blend of a second thermoplastic elastomer and a thermoplastic polymer, the blend in melt fusion adherent contact with the core along the continuous surface.
An abrasive filament comprising:
- (a) a core having a continuous surface throughout its length and consisting essentially of a blend of a first thermoplastic elastomer and a thermoplastic polymer;
- and
- (b) a sheath coterminous with the core, the sheath consisting essentially of a second thermoplastic elastomer polymer in melt fusion adherent contact with the core along the continuous surface, the second thermoplastic elastomer having abrasive particles dispersed and adhered therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.