ABRASIVE TOOL INCLUDING AGGLOMERATE PARTICLES AND AN ELASTOMER, AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20090042166A1
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Newhouse, Susan J., Watson, Mitchell R., Margl, James C., Craig, Bradley D., Fletcher, Timothy D., Jacobs, Dwight W.
• Application Number:
  US12/159,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20090042166A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/166
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 3/02 Tooth drilling or cutting instruments; Instruments acting like a sandblast machine
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 3/06 Tooth grinding or polishing discs; Holders therefor prophylactic cups A61C17/005
• CPC Class Codes: B24D 3/24 for close-grained structure B24D3/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B24D 7/18 Wheels of special form
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 3/1436 Composite particles, e.g. coated particles

Abstract

Abrasive tools (particularly dental tools), and methods of using and making such tools, wherein the abrasive tools include an elastomeric binder (e.g., one prepared from a fluoroelastomer) and agglomerate particles that include an oxide matrix (preferably, silica) and abrasive particles (preferably, diamond).

Claims

1. A method of finishing and/or polishing a dental surface, the method comprising:

providing a dental tool comprising;

agglomerate particles comprising an oxide matrix and abrasive particles; and

an elastomeric binder; and

bringing the dental tool in contact with the dental surface under conditions sufficient to finish and/or polish the dental surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein bringing the dental tool in contact with the dental surface under conditions sufficient to finish and/or polish the dental surface is carried out in multiple steps with differing amounts of pressure.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the multiple steps comprise applying relatively hard pressure to the dental tool on the dental surface, followed by relatively medium pressure, followed by relatively light pressure.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the agglomerate particles have a normalized bulk density of less than 0.38.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the abrasive particles comprise silicon carbide, aluminum oxide, boron carbide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, diamond, cubic boron nitride, or combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the abrasive particles comprise diamond, cubic boron nitride, or combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the abrasive particles comprise diamond particles.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the abrasive particles have a Mohs hardness of greater than 5.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the abrasive particle size have a mean particles size of no greater than 15 micrometers.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein agglomerate particles, abrasive particles, and/or material of the oxide matrix are surface-treated with a coupling agent.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the coupling agent is a silane coupling agent.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the silane coupling agent has the formula:

R_nSiX_(4-n)

wherein R is a nonhydrolyzable organic group and X is a hydrolyzable group.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the silane coupling agent is selected from the group consisting of vinyl-functional trimethoxysilane, hydroxyl-functional trimethoxysilane, phenyl trimethoxysilane, isooctyl trimethoxy silane, and combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the oxide matrix comprises silica.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the dental tool comprises at least 3 wt-% agglomerate particles, based on the total weight of the dental tool excluding any mechanical attachment.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric binder is prepared from an elastomer selected from the group consisting of a natural rubber elastomer, a diene rubber elastomer, a fluoroelastomer, an acrylic elastomer, an ethylene acrylic elastomer, a polyurethane elastomer, a polyurea elastomer, a poly(urethane urea) elastomer, a silicone rubber elastomer, an ethylene propylene elastomer, a polybutadiene elastomer, a styrene-butadiene elastomer, a poly-chloroprene elastomer, an epoxy elastomer, and combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the elastomeric binder is prepared from a fluoroelastomer.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the fluoroelastomer comprises a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the elastomeric binder is prepared from a polyurethane.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the elastomeric binder is prepared from a silicone rubber.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the dental surface is the surface of a cured dental restorative material.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the dental surface is the surface of a ceramic or a natural tooth.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric binder is prepared from an elastomeric binder precursor comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of coupling agents, plasticizers, fillers, expanding agents, fibers, antistatic agents, curing agents, suspending agents, photosensitizers, lubricants, wetting agents, surfactants, pigments, dyes, UV stabilizers, processing aids, adhesives, tackifiers, waxes, and combinations thereof.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the elastomeric binder precursor includes a filler selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, fumed silica, and combinations thereof.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the elastomeric binder precursor includes a curing agent selected from the group consisting of an isocyanurate, a peroxide, a divalent metal oxide, a divalent metal hydroxide, an organo-onium compound, a polyphenol, and combinations thereof.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the elastomeric binder precursor includes a processing aid selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid salt, a fatty acid ester, and combinations thereof.

27. A dental tool comprising:

agglomerate particles comprising an oxide matrix and abrasive particles; and

an elastomeric binder.

28. The dental tool of claim 27 wherein the elastomeric binder is prepared from an elastomer selected from the group consisting of a natural rubber elastomer, a diene rubber elastomer, a fluoroelastomer, an acrylic elastomer, an ethylene acrylic elastomer, a polyurethane elastomer, a polyurea elastomer, a poly(urethane urea) elastomer, a silicone rubber elastomer, an ethylene propylene elastomer, a polybutadiene elastomer, a styrene-butadiene elastomer, a poly-chloroprene elastomer, an epoxy elastomer, and combinations thereof.

29. The dental tool of claim 28 wherein the elastomeric binder is prepared from a fluoroelastomer.

30. The dental tool of claim 29 wherein the fluoroelastomer comprises a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene.

31. The dental tool of claim 28 wherein the elastomeric binder is prepared from a polyurethane.

32. The dental tool of claim 28 wherein the elastomeric binder is prepared from a silicone rubber.

33. An abrasive tool comprising:

agglomerate particles comprising an oxide matrix and abrasive particles; and

an elastomeric binder prepared from an elastomeric binder precursor comprising a fluoroelastomer.

34. An abrasive tool comprising:

agglomerate particles comprising an oxide matrix and abrasive particles; and

an elastomeric binder prepared from an elastomeric binder precursor comprising a silicone rubber elastomer.

35. A method of making an abrasive tool comprising:

providing agglomerate particles comprising an oxide matrix and abrasive particles;

combining the agglomerate particles with an elastomeric binder precursor, wherein the elastomeric binder precursor comprises a fluoroelastomer or a silicone rubber elastomer; and

curing the elastomeric binder precursor.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the abrasive tool is a dental tool.