Aluminum Oxide Abrasive Lapping Film
Advanced Abrasives provides a broad product portfolio that includes superabrasives, conventional abrasives, and related product categories. From our superabrasive category, we provide wet and dry diamond powders, compounds, and slurries, as well as cubic boron nitride powders, slurries, and compounds. These superabrasives are micronized and processed using a variety of methods, including our proprietary “Mesh to Micron” process, to satisfy a diverse range of applications worldwide. All products, including our extensive line of conventional abrasives, are manufactured under a controlled and documented manufacturing system.
We continuously monitor the needs and technological advances of global applications for superabrasives in materials removal, as well as novel tribology applications. This allows us to develop superabrasive strategies and product solutions to stay ahead of the curve for our customers’ next-generation products and applications.
Our Mission
To provide our customers with state-of-the-art superabrasive and related products. We are inspired by the highest principles of integrity, honesty, commitment, and accountability in all of our endeavors and decisions, and work with our customers to achieve superior quality products in a timely, cost-effective manner while in a controlled environment. Our results-driven service philosophy and unsurpassed attention to detail amount to world-class industry-leading solutions to help our customers.
The Go-To Abrasive for Tough Jobs
You might wonder why aluminum oxide is such a popular choice. It comes down to the mineral itself. This is an extremely tough and durable abrasive that fractures in a way that constantly exposes new, sharp cutting edges during the lapping process. This allows for a quick, consistent material removal rate without aggressive gouging.
This makes it a fantastic workhorse for finishing harder materials. If you’re working with steel components, ceramics, or other tough substrates, our aluminum oxide film provides the aggressive yet controlled action you need. While other abrasives like silicon carbide have their place, aluminum oxide offers a superb balance of cutting speed and the quality of the surface finish.
What You’re Really Working With
It helps to know exactly what you’re putting on your lapping machine. Our film is a precision-engineered tool built in layers for top performance.
It all starts with a high-strength polyester film backing. This is critical because it won’t stretch, tear, or deform under the pressure of the lapping process. A stable base means your results are flat and consistent across the entire workpiece.
On top of that, polyester is the magic: a coating of precisely graded aluminum oxide mineral particles, locked in a resin binder. We provide films with minerals graded to incredibly tight tolerances, so you get the exact surface finish you’re aiming for. The back of the film features a high-performance pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) so you can apply it smoothly to your platen and get to work quickly.
From Rough Cut to Mirror Polish
Your application dictates the process, and our films give you total control. You may need to prep a sample from the world of materials science for viewing under a microscope. Or perhaps you’re polishing the end face of a fiber optic connector where signal loss is not an option.
The process is straightforward. You begin with a coarser grit film to remove grinding marks and establish a flat, uniform substrate. Then, you progress through finer and finer grits. Each step removes the scratches from the previous one, methodically improving the surface finish until you reach the desired smoothness, sometimes down to a near-mirror polish. This step-by-step approach delivers predictable and repeatable results. Other polishing abrasives, such as cerium oxide, are also available for specific optics applications.
Don’t Forget the Lubricant
Running the lapping film dry is a recipe for disaster. A proper lubricant is just as important as the film itself. It does two critical jobs: it cools the workpiece and it flushes away the swarf (the tiny particles of material you’ve just removed).
Without a good lubricant, this debris can clog the abrasive coating, reducing its cutting ability and potentially creating random, deep scratches on your part. Using the right fluid with our lapping film extends the life of the film, gives you a quicker cut, and is absolutely essential for achieving the best possible surface.
Your Source for Superior Finishing Materials
Advanced Abrasives leads the way by providing you with exceptional products for lapping and polishing. The aluminum oxide abrasive lapping film we supply is chosen for its quality, consistency, and performance, helping you hit your surface finish targets on schedule. We are your dedicated source for the consumables that make your precision work possible.
When your process calls for something different, we have you covered there, too. Explore our other high-performance products: