Abrasive particles supplied free in a powder, paste, suspension, or slurry rather than fixed to a disc, belt, or wheel.
Walkerma, via Wikimedia Commons · Image source · Image source
Meaning and boundaries
Loose particles can become embedded, agglomerate, settle, dry, transfer between stages, or create unintended scratches.
Why it matters in glass restoration
Polishing compounds and contaminated work areas require controls different from fixed-abrasive discs.
Related terms
References
- NASA — Handbook for Recommended Material Removal Processes for Advanced Ceramic Test Specimens and Components
Publisher’s original source - National Bureau of Standards / NIST — The Science of Ceramic Machining and Surface Finishing II
Publisher’s original source - Optica Publishing Group — The Role of Cerium Oxide in Glass Polishing
Publisher’s original source - International Organization for Standardization — ISO abrasive-grain standards catalogue
Publisher’s original source