Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Timothy J Trudeau

Donna Wendeln Bange

Harold W Benedict

Gary L Heacox

Michael J Schneider

Subramanian Krishnan

Methods for preparing abrasive articles and novel methods of making abrasive articles are presented. One method includes inserting a fibrous material adjacent an interior surface of a drum. A composition comprising an organic binder precursor material is then placed in the drum, and the drum is rotated such that centrifugal forces distribute the composition, including the organic binder precursor material, uniformly about the fibrous material. The composition is exposed to conditions sufficient to solidify the organic binder precursor material such that an endless, flexible, seamless substrate is formed having an outer surface formed adjacent the interior surface of the drum, an inner surface opposite the outer surface and the fibrous material embedded therein. Coated abrasives formed by this method, as well as other methods, are provided wherein an effective amount of a fibrous reinforcing material is engulfed within an organic polymeric binder material. Sufficient binder is present such that there is one or more regions of organic binder material free of fibrous reinforcing material, to which abrasive particles are attached.

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Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Timothy J Trudeau