Abrasives are materials, often minerals, specifically designed to shape or finish a workpiece through friction or rubbing. The main function of abrasives is to remove material from surfaces, either to make them smoother, to alter their shape, or to clean them. They achieve this by providing a rough surface that, when applied with pressure, grinds away at the surface of another material. Abrasives are available in various forms, such as sandpaper, grinding wheels, and abrasive belts, each tailored to a specific task or machine.
The main uses of abrasives are in metalworking, woodworking, and for cleaning and maintaining surfaces. Characteristics of good abrasive materials include hardness, which must be greater than the material being worked on, grain size, which determines the finish quality, and the ability to maintain shape during use. Because of their versatile nature, they are widely used in automotive repair, construction, furniture making, and even in the production of electronic components where precise surface treatment is required. Several manufacturers known for producing high-quality abrasives include 3M, Saint-Gobain, and Norton Abrasives.