The British Abrasives Federation represents the major UK manufacturers and suppliers of abrasives.
The members are free to use the BAF logo on all literature. The BAF has direct input into our National Standards body - BSI (The British Standards Institution) and is regarded by the BSI as the voice of the UK abrasives industry.
With the replacement of the Abrasives Wheel Regulations by PUWER '98 there is now a greater emphasis on training and also the scope of people requiring training. The BAF is able to offer guidance on issues related to training of end-users.
The BAF has recently introduced a series of safety posters, endorsed by the HSE, to replace those withdrawn when the old Abrasive Wheel Regulations were rescinded. In addition, Safety Leaflets and Safety Codes intended for end-users are available. Specimens of the new posters are now available to download and view on our News Pages <click here>
Through BSI, the BAF represents the United Kingdom within both CEN and ISO Organisations, taking an active role in the development of standards related to the abrasives industry, whether concerned with bonded, coated, superabrasives or abrasive grain.
The BAF is a member of FEPA (Federation of European Producers of Abrasives) and represents the UK, taking an active part in the creation of Safety Codes, Leaflets, Safety Data Sheets, for use throughout Europe.
Contact: Stuart Lane - Secretary
E-mail: info@thebaf.org.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 8456 12 13 80
Fax:+44 (0) 8456 12 13 80
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The primary materials used are Fused Aluminium Oxide, Silicon Carbide and Alumina Zirconia. All products are produced using substantial amounts of electrical energy. In the case of Aluminium Oxide the principal raw materials are Bauxite and Alumina. For Silicon Carbide the main raw material is Petroleum Coke. Alumina Zirconias are produced using variable amounts of Alumina and Zircon Sands depending on the hardness & toughness of the abrasive grit requirements.
There are a wide range of products based on chemistry, particle size, grain shape and special treatments. For abrasives particle size is especially carefully controlled in accordance with European Standards - FEPA, American Standards - ANSI and Japanese Standards - JIS
As well as being an integral part of the production of Bonded and Coated Abrasives, the materials are also used in other applications such as Shot Blasting, Refractories and many general industrial applications, particularly for the flooring, lapping and polishing industries.
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Bonded abrasives are a mixture of abrasive grains, fillers and bonding materials. The bonding agent can by vitreous; resin, rubber, shellac, epoxy, magnasite and a range of bonding materials often referred to as a ‘plastic’. Throughout the industry many developments have been made using new types of abrasive grain and bond developments to increase the performance of the bonded abrasive product. Each product is designed to give a specific finish, speed of cutting and stock removal or cutting requirements |
Coated Abrasives Coated Abrasives consist of a backing material - typically, Paper, Woven Cloth, Cloth/Paper Combination, Polyester Film or Vulcanised Fibre, to which is bonded one of the abrasive grain types listed in our Abrasive Grain Technologies section. An initial 'Make' coating of resin is applied to the backing, the chosen abrasive grain is then electro-coated onto the surface, followed by a second or ' Size' coating of resin to lock in the abrasive particles. Following an oven cure the resulting materials are converted into various forms, shapes and sizes of Belts, Rolls, Discs or Wheels to Grind, De-burr, Finish and Polish products in a vast range of applications. |
The term Superabrasives relates to grinding polishing or dressing tools manufactured using diamond or CBN as the abrasive. These tools are able to machine a broad spectrum of materials including ferrous and non-ferrous materials. Diamond or CBN abrasive can be held in various bond materials including metal, resinoid, electroplated and vitrified. These tools have a broad spectrum of application from stone and construction to precision engineering. Superabrasives are generally superior in lifetime compared to “conventional bonded abrasives” and offer the ability to cut or grind hard to machine materials with relative ease. |
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