Method and tool for maintenance of hard surface, and method for manufacturing the tool

The present disclosure relates to methods and tools for maintaining hard surfaces, primarily concrete (cement), artificial stone and granite floor surfaces, as well as marble or limestone surfaces. The present disclosure specifically relates to maintenance methods and tools suitable for use on a regular basis to maintain a polished, hard floor surface.

In addition, the disclosure relates to methods of maintaining hard, smooth surfaces, primarily wood, linoleum, lacquer and vinyl floor surfaces. The present disclosure specifically relates to maintenance methods suitable for use on a daily basis to maintain a shiny, hard and smooth surface such as a floor surface.

It is known to use pads in the shape of a three-dimensional non-woven web in connection with floor surface cleaning or light polishing. The pad is usually provided as a disc-shaped object that can be detachably mounted on a disc carrier that rotates parallel to the floor surface during use, so that the pad is in contact with the floor surface. , Slightly compressed by the pressure generated between the floor surface and the disc carrier. The disc carrier is usually driven by a motor and can be mounted on a carrier frame that can be adjusted to be pushed or pulled by a walking operator or adjusted as a vehicle.

Such pads are formed from fibers of organic substances such as polyamide and / or polyester, especially polyethylene terephthalate. In some cases, the fibers also include natural fibers such as walnut fibers or coconut fibers.

The fibers of the pad are interconnected at their mutual contact points by so-called melt bonds, where the fibers receive heat and the outer portions of the fibers are slightly melted and thereby bonded to each other.

Alternatively, or in addition, the fibers may be interconnected at their mutual contact points by impregnating the pads with a polymeric resin, hereinafter referred to as the "major binder."

The manufacture of this type of non-woven pad is well known, for example, from US-A-3,537,121, US-A-4,893,439, EP-A-0 397 374, GB-A-1 348 526 and EP-B-0 562 919. As such, there is no need to elaborate further herein.

US-A-3,537,121 discloses aluminum, plastic, wax, and pads for polishing surfaces of similar surfaces. US-A-3,537,121 also discloses the manufacture of such pads. In US-A-3,537,121, the pad is passed between the pair of drawing rolls in which one of the pair of drawing rolls is partially immersed in a container for a mixture of binder resin and abrasive particles. A binder mixed with abrasive particles is applied to the pad, after which the pad is cured or dried. Thus, US-A-3,537,121 provides a pad that is entirely impregnated with binder and abrasive particles.

US-A-4,893,439 discloses pads for polishing floor surfaces or aluminum. The pad is made of organic fiber and has a thick and elastic open non-woven structure, and contains a binder that binds abrasive particles to the fiber. The pads shown in US-A-4,893,439 have larger pores than those shown in US-A-3,537,121, thereby having an improved ability to absorb dirt and therefore can be used for a longer period of time. .. Further, the pads disclosed in US-A-4,893,439 are totally impregnated with a binder and abrasive particles.

EP-A-0 397 374 discloses a pad for a floor grind, which is also totally impregnated with binders and abrasive particles.

Pads of the above types are so-called "polished finishes" at high speeds (1500-3000 rpm) and relatively low pressures on very lightly abraded surfaces, ie dry polishing (often daily standard) to restore the polished surface. ) Is often used. This type of treatment is commonly used for both vinyl and marble floor finishing materials. Suitable pads for this purpose are available from 3M® under the label "3M® Floor Pads" and are very hard floor surfaces such as artificial stone or concrete that have been worn for a relatively long period of time. Provides no or little effect on.

EP-B-0 562 919 discloses a non-woven pad of polymer fibers that is entirely impregnated with a binder containing a mixture of curable plastic resin and abrasive particles with a particle size of 0.1-30 μm. Examples of curable resins include phenol resins, acrylic resins, melamine resins, and urea resins. Diamond is described as one of several other examples of plausible abrasive particles. However, according to EP-B-0 562 919, the pads disclosed therein are suitable for treating marble floor surfaces only in combination with crystallization chemicals, which are liquids containing salt-forming acids. It means that it must be processed in the presence.

The pad in EP-B-0 562 919 allows the non-woven pad to pass through the gap between the two drawing rolls, one of which is partially immersed in the binder / abrasive particle mixture. Also provided by the above, the binder and abrasive particles are distributed in the pad via the surface of the cylinder.

Since the pads disclosed in EP-B-0 562 919 must be used in the presence of crystallization chemicals, the method described in EP-B-0 562 919 is actually stain resistant to marble floors. It constitutes a vitrification method used to improve properties and durability. This method is not suitable for daily maintenance purposes because it involves the use of special crystallization chemicals containing acids, which react with the calcium present on the floor surface to produce insoluble calcium salts. Because it should form. Such methods are typically used once in connection with the initial preparation of polished marble floors and then at intervals of 6-12 months. The method described in EP-B-0 562 919 is thus too complex to use on a daily basis.

The types of pads mentioned in EP-B-0 562 919 are labeled "3M® 5200 Brown Stone Renewal Pad" and "3M® 4000 Gray Stone Polishing Pad" by 3M®. It is sold and used to process marble at relatively low speeds (below 250 rpm) in the presence of crystallization chemicals.

The need for crystallization chemicals and other surface improvers complicates the polishing process, because the chemicals must be applied to the surface, perhaps after which excess chemicals are removed. This is because it also contributes to making the polishing work more time consuming. The handling and application of the chemicals also constitutes a potential hazard to the environment in general, especially to the working environment.

It is also known to provide a polished stone or concrete surface by using abrasive particles, i.e. a grinding element made from a plastic resin mixed with diamond particles or a tool containing the polishing element. Since such elements are usually fixed and mounted on a rotating plate, they do not have the ability to compensate for the unevenness of the floor, which leads to uneven treatment of the floor surface or excess of such elements. Contact with the floor surface under pressure can lead to scratches or contamination of the surface. Yet another problem is that scattered objects such as sand, pebbles or metal particles can pierce into or near the element and cause scratches on the floor surface. Finally, this type of tool requires a special mechanical part that can apply relatively high pressure to the contact surface between the tool and the floor surface.

WO 03/075734 discloses a disc-shaped device for cleaning purposes that includes a nylon polishing material placed on a hard disc and a grinding element containing industrial diamond placed in a recess on the active polishing surface. .. The disadvantage with respect to the device disclosed in WO 03/075734 is that the device does not eliminate the risk of splatters sticking into or near the grinding element. Yet another disadvantage is that the tool is relatively fragile due to its complexity and is relatively difficult and expensive to manufacture.

Therefore, there is a need for improved and simplified methods and tools for maintaining a hard surface daily. Preferably, the method must be easy to use, for example, for those who have no experience in expert training in floor surface conditioning, and the method is a conventional floor surface finishing device, such as a polishing machine, etc. Must be available in. Also, the tool must be easy to manufacture, not too expensive, and durable.

<p> It is an object of the prior art methods and to provide improved techniques for eliminating problems with pads in whole or in part. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of treating hard surfaces that is easier to use than prior art methods and provides better or comparable results. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method suitable for hard and smooth stones or stone-like surfaces.</p><p> A further purpose is to polish, clean, or otherwise maintain hard, smooth, and preferably glossy surfaces, especially floor surfaces, by eliminating or reducing the need for surface improvement or cleaning chemicals. To provide a method.</p>

<p> The present invention has a polishing effect that is much better than the polishing effect that the polishing particles in the shape of diamond particles can achieve, for example, using the polishing particles used in the examples shown in EP-B-0 562 919. This polishing effect is based on the idea that it is excellent enough to eliminate the need for crystallization chemicals and other surface improvers.</p><p> The present invention is defined by the independent claims of the attached sheet. Aspects are described in the dependent claims and the following description and drawings.</p><p> According to the first aspect, a method of maintaining a hard and smooth surface containing a material selected from the group consisting of wood, polymeric materials, lacquer, and linoleum, using a flexible pad to the pad. Provided is the method described above comprising treating the surface on a contact surface between the pad and the hard surface in the presence of bonded abrasive particles. The abrasive particles include diamond particles. The treatment is performed using a pad containing a thick, elastic three-dimensional open non-woven fiber web.</p><p> The combination of the flexible pad and the diamond particles compensates for the unevenness on the surface and evenly distributes the pressure applied to the pad. This combination also significantly reduces the risk of diamond scratching the surface due to the flexibility of the pad.</p><p> The use of diamond particles as abrasive particles when polishing a hard and smooth surface provides an effect equal to or better than the use of conventional abrasive particles, both wet and dry. In particular, the use of diamond makes it possible to abolish the surface improver, thereby eliminating its handling.</p><p> The treatment can be performed in the absence of a liquid on the contact surface, that is, in a substantially dry state, or in the presence of water on the contact surface, that is, in a wet state. In particular, the treatment can be performed in the presence of water on the contact surface and a cleaning agent, which is very well coupled with daily maintenance / cleaning operations.</p><p> In one embodiment, the abrasive particles are bound to the pad by a secondary binder. Therefore, no abrasive needs to be added when treating the floor. Specifically, the abrasive particles can be attached to the pad only in the vicinity of the contact surface. This is beneficial because the abrasive particles present in the portion of the pad that are not in contact with the hard surface do not perform any function and are therefore considered dust.</p><p> The treatment can be carried out using a pad having diamond particles having an average diameter of between 0.1 and 30 μm, preferably between 0.1 μm and 15 μm, most preferably between 2 μm and 15 μm.</p><p> The treatment can be carried out using a pad having diamond particles containing at least one of natural diamond particles, industrial diamond particles, and coated diamond particles.</p><p> The pad is 40 kg / m³Less than, preferably 20-35 kg / m³Can have a density of. Thus, the pad contains a relatively large number of pores through which dust, particles, and particles can move during the process. Thus, the dust is contained in the pad to a large extent rather than being distributed in the treated area, eliminating the need for additional dust collectors. Also, by moving the scattered material into the pad, the risk of scratching the surface is reduced.</p><p> The hard and smooth surface may be the floor surface.</p><p> The pad can be moved relative to the hard surface while in contact with the hard surface.</p><p> The pad can be rotated at a rotational speed of 50 to 3000 rpm, preferably 100 to 1500 rpm, while in contact with a hard surface.</p><p> In one embodiment, the surface can contain a polymeric material such as polyvinyl, and the treatment uses a pad with diamond particles having an average diameter between 0.1 μm and 15 μm, most preferably between 3 μm and 12 μm. Can be done.</p><p> In another embodiment, the surface comprises linoleum and the treatment has diamond particles with an average diameter between 0.1 μm and 15 μm, preferably between 3 μm and 12 μm, most preferably between 3 μm and 6 μm. It is done using a pad.</p><p> In yet another embodiment, the treatment is carried out using a pad having diamond particles having average diameters between 0.1 μm and 15 μm, preferably between 3 μm and 12 μm, most preferably between 3 μm and 6 μm. ..</p><p> The hard and smooth surface can have a hardness of less than about 3 moh, preferably less than about 2 moh, most preferably less than about 1 moh.</p><p> The treatment can be carried out in the absence of an effective amount of surface improver on the contact surface.</p><p> The term "surface improver" is understood to include substances that are added in the treatment of the surface and interact with the surface to make the surface glossier. Examples of surface improvers include waxes, oils, resins, varnishes, and similar products. Soaps, cleaning agents and similar products added for cleaning purposes are not considered "surface improvers".</p><p> The term "effective amount" is understood to be sufficient to achieve a measurable gloss improvement compared to the same treatment with a liquid containing no surface improver.</p><p> The definition of effective amount can change in relation to the intervals at which the treatment is performed. Therefore, for ad hoc treatments, i.e., for one-time treatments, the surface improvement effect is achieved more than when the treatments are performed at intervals of one day, two or three days, or one week. Much higher amounts may be required. The amount may need to be adjusted to fit each type of surface improver selected and the type of surface to be treated.</p><p> According to another aspect, a method of maintaining a hard and smooth surface containing a material selected from the group consisting of gel coat, glass, and automotive enamel, which is bonded to the pad using a flexible pad. The method is provided, which comprises treating the surface on the contact surface between the pad and the hard surface in the presence of the polished particles. The abrasive particles include diamond particles. The treatment is carried out in the absence of an effective amount of surface improver on the contact surface, and the treatment is carried out using a pad containing a thick, elastic three-dimensional open non-woven fiber web.</p><p> Further, a method of treating or maintaining a hard surface containing a stone material or a stone-like material, using a flexible pad, between the pad and the hard surface in the presence of abrasive particles bound to the pad. The treatment comprises treating the surface on the contact surface, wherein the abrasive particles contain diamond particles, and the treatment is carried out in the absence of an effective amount of crystallization agent on the contact surface. Method is provided.</p><p> The term "diamond" is understood to include natural diamonds as well as synthetic diamonds, and diamond particles are coated with any suitable coating, eg silver.</p><p> The term "effective amount" is understood to be sufficient to achieve a measurable gloss improvement compared to the same treatment with a liquid containing no crystallization agents. The amount known to be effective is 50m per processing operation.²Approximately 1-2 liters of crystallization agent (including 2-30 wt%, eg magnesium hexafluorosilicate) per floor surface. Therefore, the amount known to be effective on an ad hoc basis is 1 m.²Varies from about 0.4 g magnesium hexafluorosilicate per floor surface. However, for example, crystallizers diluted at a ratio of 1: 100 are also known to be effective when used repeatedly, eg, in connection with daily or weekly maintenance. Therefore, the amount that has been found to be effective in maintaining on a regular basis is 1 m.²It varies from about 0.004 g of magnesium hexafluorosilicate per floor surface. It is understood that other types of crystallization agents, such as zinc hexafluorosilicate, phosphoric acid, and oxalic acid, are present. Thus, the above values may need to be adjusted to fit each type of crystallizer selected.</p><p> The combination of the flexible pad and the diamond particles compensates for the unevenness on the surface and evenly distributes the pressure applied to the pad. This combination also significantly reduces the risk of diamond scratching the surface due to the flexibility of the pad.</p><p> The use of diamond particles as abrasive particles when polishing a hard stone surface provides an effect equal to or better than the use of conventional abrasive particles, whether wet or dry. In particular, the use of diamond makes it possible to abolish the crystallization agent, thereby eliminating its handling.</p><p> The treatment may be carried out in the absence of a liquid on the contact surface, i.e. in the substantially dry state, or in the presence of water on the contact surface, i.e. in the wet state. You can. In particular, the treatment can be performed in the presence of water on the contact surface and a cleaning agent, which is very well coupled with daily maintenance / cleaning operations.</p><p> In one embodiment, the abrasive particles are bound to the pad by a secondary binder. Therefore, no abrasive needs to be added when treating the floor. Specifically, the abrasive particles can be attached to the pad only in the vicinity of the contact surface. This is beneficial because the abrasive particles present in the portion of the pad that are not in contact with the hard surface do not perform any function and are therefore considered dust.</p><p> The abrasive particles can have an average diameter of 0.1 to 30 μm, preferably between 0.1 μm and 15 μm, most preferably between 10 μm and 15 μm.</p><p> The abrasive particles can include at least one of natural diamond particles, industrial diamond particles, and coated diamond particles.</p><p> The treatment can be carried out using a pad having diamond particles having an average diameter of between 0.1 and 30 μm, preferably between 0.1 μm and 15 μm, most preferably between 5 μm and 15 μm.</p><p> In one aspect, the pad used comprises a thick, elastic three-dimensional open non-woven fiber web. Such webs are available at relatively low prices and adapt to existing surface finishers in standard size.</p><p> The pad is 40 kg / m³Less than, preferably 20-35 kg / m³Can have a density of. Thus, the pad contains a relatively large number of pores through which dust, particles, and particles can move during the process. Thus, the dust is contained in the pad to a large extent rather than being distributed in the treated area, eliminating the need for additional dust collectors. Also, by moving the scattered material into the pad, the risk of scratching the surface is reduced.</p><p> The method is particularly suitable for use on floor surfaces.</p><p> The method is particularly applicable when the surface is a stone material or a stone-like material having a hardness of about 5 moh or more, preferably 6 to 7 moh. Examples of such surfaces are concrete, artificial stone, granite, and the like.</p><p> The pad can be rotated at a rotational speed of 50 to 3000 rpm, preferably 100 to 1500 rpm, while in contact with the hard surface.</p><p> The treatment can be performed on a substantially regular basis, such as daily, weekly, or monthly.</p><p> Further provided is a tool comprising a flexible pad for treating a hard surface, the flexible pad having an active treated surface that provides abrasive particles bound to the pad. The pad provides a first portion in which the abrasive particles are present at a first concentration and a second portion having a lower second concentration of the abrasive particles, the abrasive particles comprising diamond particles.</p><p> In one embodiment, the second portion is substantially free of diamond particles.</p><p> Since the abrasive particles present in the portion of the pad that are not in contact with the hard surface do not perform any function, the pad according to the present disclosure can be manufactured at a relatively low price.</p><p> The flexibility of the pad eliminates or reduces the harmful effects that the diamond abrasive particles would otherwise have on a hard surface. Therefore, the tool can be used on any hard surface such as wood, laminates, marble, granite, concrete, artificial stone, etc. However, the tool is particularly effective for hard stone or stone-like surfaces such as granite, concrete, artificial stone, etc.</p><p> In one embodiment, the pad comprises a disc-shaped body having a thickness and a first surface, and the abrasive particles are present on and below the first surface to a depth shorter than the thickness. Therefore, the first portion is on the first surface and the second portion is on the second surface opposite to the first surface. The absence of abrasives and binders on the second surface facilitates attachment of the pad to the Velcro® hook joint on the carrier plate.</p><p> In a second aspect, the pad consists of a disc-shaped body with a thickness and a first surface, the abrasive particles are present over a narrower first surface than the whole, and thus the first and first surfaces. The two parts are adjacent to each other on the first surface. This second aspect facilitates the movement of dust and scattered matter into the pad.</p><p> In one aspect, the pad comprises a thick, elastic three-dimensional open non-woven web containing multiple fibers attached to each other at contact points with each other.</p><p> The abrasive particles can be bound to the fibers of the pad by a secondary binder. Therefore, the fiber binding of the pad should not be adversely affected by the presence of abrasive particles only on the contact surface.</p><p> As a non-limiting example, the secondary binder can be selected from the group consisting of phenolic resins, melamine resins, urea resins, and epoxy resins.</p><p> In one embodiment, the secondary binder forms a plurality of well-defined droplets having a maximum diameter shorter than the average length between the two interconnect points of the fiber. Thus, the fibers are not entirely covered with the binder resin, further facilitating the movement of dust and scattering into the pad.</p><p> The abrasive particles can include diamond particles having an average diameter between 0.1 and 30 μm, preferably between 0.1 μm and 15 μm, most preferably between 5 μm and 15 μm.</p><p> The pad can further contain secondary abrasive particles selected from the group consisting of graphite, tin oxide, silicon carbide, and aluminum oxide.</p><p> The pad is preferably provided in the form of a disc with a diameter between 30 cm and 100 cm and an uncompressed thickness between 1 cm and 5 cm.</p><p> Further provided is a method of manufacturing a pad for treating a hard surface. The method prepares a pad and applies a mixture of diamond-containing abrasive particles and a binder on the first surface of the pad so that the pad is present with the abrasive particles in a first concentration. It is characterized by providing a first portion and a second portion having a lower second concentration of the abrasive particles. In one aspect, the second portion is substantially free of the abrasive particles. The abrasive particles can be provided on the first surface by spray coating, roll coating, or dipping method.</p>

<figref num="1a">The pad according to the first aspect is shown.</figref><figref num="1b">The pad according to the first aspect is shown.</figref><figref num="2a">The pad according to the second aspect is shown.</figref><figref num="2b">The pad according to the second aspect is shown.</figref><figref num="3a">An enlarged photograph of the pad according to the present disclosure is shown before and after the application of the binder and the abrasive particles.</figref><figref num="3b">An enlarged photograph of the pad according to the present disclosure is shown before and after the application of the binder and the abrasive particles.</figref><figref num="4">(a): A schematic view of the pad according to the first aspect and the pad are shown. (b): A schematic view of the pad according to the first aspect and an enlargement of a part of the pad are shown.</figref><figref num="5">It is sectional drawing of the floor surface finishing machine to which the pad according to this disclosure is attached.</figref>

[Explanation of aspects] The description will first focus on tools suitable for use in methods of maintaining hard surfaces, then on methods of manufacturing the tools, and finally on the use of tools for maintaining hard surfaces. Referring to FIG. 1a, a pad 1 made of a thick, elastic three-dimensional open non-woven web of fibers 2 is shown. The first surface of the pad 1 has a portion P1 that provides abrasive particles bound to the web with a secondary binder, i.e., a binder that must primarily bind the fibers to the web. The pad 1 has a circular shape.

With reference to FIG. 1b, a cross section is shown along lines S1-S2 in FIG. 1a. As shown in FIG. 1b, the portion P1 providing the abrasive particles is present on the first surface A and to a depth D shorter than the thickness T of the pad 1. Therefore, on the second surface B, there is a portion P2 that is substantially free of abrasive particles and secondary binders.

When referring to a "part", it should be understood to be a part of the macrostructure of the pad 1 rather than a part of the individual fibers.

Referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, a similar pad 1 is shown, the difference being that the portion P2'is also present on the first surface A, which is substantially the same. Is free of abrasive particles and secondary binders.

In both embodiments, the abrasive particles are present throughout the secondary binder and the fibers are bonded to each other by the primary binder and / or melt bonding.

The manufacture of pad 1 according to the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1a and 1b will now be described.

As a starting material, a disc-shaped Glit / Microtron® light brown floor polishing pad with a diameter of 20 inches (51 cm), a thickness of 28 mm, and a weight of 157 g was used. Such pads are available from Glit / Microtron, Wrens, Georgia, USA. The starting density of the pad is therefore 27 kg / m³Met. FIG. 3a is a photomicrograph showing the pad of the polymer resin / abrasive particles before application. From FIG. 3a, it can be understood that the fibers constituting the pad are bonded by the main polymer resin at their mutual contact point 10. The pad is flexible and elastic and contains polyester and nylon fibers.

200 g of PA resin, 52-68 g of phenolic resin (available from Perstorp AB, Perstorp, Sweden), 100 g of T-ROED® ethanol (available from Alfort &amp; Cronholm AB, Bromma, Sweden), and 20 g. A homogeneous polymer resin mixture consisting of 4-8 μm LANDS LS600F diamond particles (available from Lands Superabrasives, Co., NY, NY, USA) was prepared. Immediately prior to application of the mixture, 60 g of 65% p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTS) was added as a curing agent.

The resin mixture was sprayed onto the first surface A of the polishing pad surface using a standard type compressed air sprayer (usually used for spray paints). The pad with the uncured resin then weighed 173 g. Then, the pad was placed in a hot air furnace at about 120 ° C. for about 20 minutes.

The pad now has the appearance seen from the micrograph of FIG. 3b. Small spheres or droplets 11 of the resin / particle mixture are formed along each fiber and between the mutual contact points of the fibers. The droplets are distributed so that the fibers to which they are attached are not covered as a whole. A clearer illustration of this can be found in Figures 4a-4b, which show the pads mentioned above with reference to Figure 1a-1b, and a partial enlargement of those pads (Figure 4b). In the binder / particle mixture, droplets 11 are attached to those fibers.

To evaluate the performance of the pads manufactured as described above, it is referred to as "yellow" with two different 20 inch (51 cm) pads manufactured as described above, ie 7-12 μm silver coated diamond particles. A comparative test was performed to evaluate the first pad to be made and the second pad referred to as "green" with 3-6 μm ordinary diamond particles. As a control, two different commercially available pads were used, i.e., 20 inch (51 cm) 3M® 5200 brown stone renewal pad and 20 both available from 3M, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. An inch (51 cm) 3M® 4000 gray stone polishing pad was used.

The test was performed on two different surface types: Colmalden marble (marble from the Colmalden area outside Norrkoeping, Sweden), and K40 concrete. Each test is a Coor &amp; Kleever Crystallizer 1250KG floor surface finisher with a single carrier plate adapted to rotate at approximately 175 rpm under a 20 inch floor pad (available from Coor &amp; Kleever, SA, Barcelona, Spain). About 1m using²Made on the surface of. The test is about 1 minute / m²Included polishing the surface during. The surface gloss was measured at several points on the region before and after each treatment using a Sanwal / Centa IG-310 gloss tester. The gloss values in the table below constitute an average value for each region. High gloss is rated at 80-90 °. Semi-gloss is rated at 50-75 °. The satin finish is rated at 30-45 °. Rough polishing is rated at 20-25 °. Matte scenes are rated at 5-15 °.

Each surface was tested dry and with water as a lubricant. In addition, the concrete surface may contain Coor Rosa / K-2 crystallization agent as a lubricant (available from Coor &amp; Kleever, SA, Barcelona, Spain), ie magnesium hexafluorosilicate as a crystallization agent, EP- B-0 562 Tested using the crystallization chemicals described in 919.

When testing 3M® pads, each surface was treated first with a brown pad and then with a gray pad.

<tables num="1"><img file="JP2012024923A_D0001.tif" /></tables>

<tables num="2"><img file="JP2012024923A_D0002.tif" /></tables>

From Tables 1 and 2, the 3M® pad combination (brown and gray) gives slightly better results when water is used as a lubricant on marble, which is a relatively soft stone with a hardness of about 3-5 moh. However, it can be concluded that both the gray pad and the green pad obtained values within the "pear-skin" range. However, during the dry state, the green pad achieved significant improvements and reached the semi-gloss range.

<tables num="3"><img file="JP2012024923A_D0003.tif" /></tables>

<tables num="4"><img file="JP2012024923A_D0004.tif" /></tables>

From Tables 3 and 4, on k40 concrete with a hardness of about 6-7 moh in wet conditions, the combination of brown and gray pads provided no measurable improvement, but the combination of yellow and green pads was clear. It can be seen that it provided a great improvement. In the dry state, we noticed a small improvement for the surface treated with the combination of brown and gray pads, but a larger improvement for the surface treated with the combination of yellow and green pads.

<tables num="5"><img file="JP2012024923A_D0005.tif" /></tables>

From Table 5, some effect can be achieved with a gray pad using Coor Rosa / K-2 crystallizer as a lubricant on K40 concrete, and a green pad with Coor Rosa / K-2 crystallizer as a lubricant. It turns out that some better effects can be achieved with.

Overall, it is concluded that the pads according to the present disclosure provide significant improvements over prior art. The improvement is particularly noticeable in the dry state and on concrete.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a floor surface finishing machine 20 in which the pad 1 according to the present disclosure is mounted so as to define a hard surface 8 and a contact surface 9 which are floor surfaces in this example. The pad 1 is mounted on a driven and rotatable carrier plate 4, which typically fits into a bearing so that it can rotate in relation to the machine body 5 in which the motor device 6 is located. In this embodiment, the machine has a handle 7, which is adapted for a walking operator to hold, push, or pull. It can be seen that in another aspect, the floor surface finishing machine 20 may be, for example, a rideable vehicle to which a carrier plate 4 adapted to receive the pad 1 is attached.

Pad 1 and method described above are a combination of washer / dryer, eg Nilfisk CR1300, single disc floor maintainer (low or high speed), eg Nilfisk 510B or 545, polishing machine, eg Nilfisk SDH5120. Daily cleaning of hard polished surfaces such as stone, concrete, or artificial stone floors using floor finishing machines such as BHS5120 or BHS7014 (all of which are available from Nilfisk-Advance, Stockholm, Sweden). Can be used for maintenance.

Treatment of the floor surface is typically performed by rotating the pad in parallel with the floor surface when in contact with the floor surface. A typical rotation speed is 50 rpm to 3000 rpm. However, lower or higher rotational speeds are not excluded.

As is clear from the above, the first aspect of the pad according to the present disclosure is a thick, elastic, three-dimensional open non-woven web containing multiple fibers attached to each other by a major binder at contact points with each other. Where the abrasive particles are mixed with a secondary binder and applied only to the first surface of the pad, so the pad is only partially impregnated with the binder / particle mixture. .. Alternatively, or in addition, the fibers may be melt-bonded to each other.

In the second aspect of the pad, the binder / particle mixture is applied only to the portion of the first surface. This can be achieved by masking the area of the surface where the binder / particle mixture should not be applied.

In a third aspect, the pad is totally impregnated with the binder / particle mixture, for example by using a drawing roll as described in EP-B-0 562 919. In this embodiment, a relatively thin impregnated woven or non-woven pad is attached to the thicker carrier pad to provide flexibility. According to the modification of this aspect, substantially two-dimensional woven or non-woven webs are attached to the thicker carrier pad.

In a fourth aspect, a three-dimensional woven or knitted pad to which the binder / particle mixture is applied as described above can be used.

In a fifth aspect, the abrasive particles are present in the pad material. In the first option, the pad is substantially the non-woven fiber pad described above, and diamond particles are included in the fiber material. In the second option, the pad is a foamed polymer pad and diamond particles are included in the foamed polymer material.

In a sixth aspect, the pad is a foamed polymer pad, one surface of which is coated with a binder / particle mixture as described above.

The present disclosure is not limited to the use of phenolic resins. Other examples of suitable resins are melamine, urea, epoxies, and polyester resins.

Further, the curing agent can be selected from any curing agent suitable for the selected resin type. It is also possible, for example, to be free of the curing agent by curing the pad at a relatively high temperature and / or for a relatively long time.

Also, a solvent (ethanol was used in the example) is provided simply to reduce the viscosity of the mixture and thereby facilitate its spray coating. Any suitable solvent can be used, but the solvent can be excluded if the coating method allows.

The abrasive particles preferably contain diamond. However, floor treatment pads can be manufactured according to the above principles using other types of abrasive particles, or combinations thereof, as well as those described in, for example, EP-B-0 562 919. In particular, silver-coated diamond particles have been found to provide similarly good results. Of course, diamond particles can be combined with other types of abrasive particles.

The pad 1 having the above-mentioned secondary binder and abrasive particles can be attached to a disk or flat plate having any fastener so that it can be bonded to the carrier plate of the surface finisher, or the pad can be attached. , A Velcro® type hook device provided on the carrier plate, the hook can be directly bonded to the surface finishing machine by the device for hooking the fibers of the pad 1. Understood. Therefore, the maintenance tool has a primary binder, a secondary binder, and abrasive particles, and is possibly a pad with a dye or printed area that provides information about the pad type, manufacturer, trademark, etc. It can be composed of.

Alternatively, or in addition, the pad may be provided with a backing layer.

The applicant's yellow and green pads described above, as well as another pad referred to as "white" that has 15-30 μm diamond particles but is otherwise equivalent to the yellow and green pads described above. Used for further testing. As a control, 3M® 5100 Red Buffer Pads available from 3M, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA were used.

In the first additional test, the applicant's pad was tested on an oiled oak parquet surface. The gloss value of the floor was measured before and after the treatment at five points separated by the gloss meter described above, whereby the average gloss value was calculated after the treatment using each pad type. The results are shown in Table 6.

<tables num="6"><img file="JP2012024923A_D0006.tif" /></tables>

From Table 6, it can be seen that both provide a very glossy surface and can achieve a gloss improvement from the silk matte surface (6.0), especially when using the yellow and white pads. The white pad provided a lustrous surface, while the 3M® red pad provided a somewhat stained but lustrous surface. It was found that the white pad, yellow pad and green pad provided a very clean floor.

In a second additional test, Applicant's pads were tested for wet polishing of oiled oak parquet surfaces. The gloss value of the floor was measured before and after the treatment at five points separated by the gloss meter described above, whereby the average gloss value was calculated after the treatment using each pad type. The results are shown in Table 7.

<tables num="7"><img file="JP2012024923A_D0007.tif" /></tables>

From Table 7, it can be seen that starting from the silk matte surface, the white and yellow pads provided a completely matte surface with some grinding residue prominent in the water. On the other hand, the green pad provided a matte and perfectly smooth surface. Dry polishing with a green pad provided a lustrous clean surface with no oil slicks. It was found that the white pad, yellow pad and green pad provided a very clean floor. It was also found that dry polishing of the floor using a white pad, a yellow pad or a green pad after wet polishing provided a gloss value similar to the gloss value in Table 6.

Therefore, the pads disclosed herein grind and (or) wood surfaces such as wood floor surfaces, deck surfaces (eg, on patios or boats), wall surfaces, interior moldings, doors, skirting boards, etc. ) It is concluded that it can be used for polishing.

In a third additional test, Applicant's pads were tested for dry polishing of Amtico® vinyl tile floors available from Amtico International, Coventry, UK, which had been treated to a glossy finish with floor finish wax. Initially, the surface had numerous scratches. The gloss value of the floor was measured before and after the treatment at five points separated by the gloss meter described above, whereby the average gloss value was calculated after the treatment using each pad type. The results are shown in Table 8.

<tables num="8"><img file="JP2012024923A_D0008.tif" /></tables>

From Table 8, it can be seen that the 3M® red pad maintained a lustrous floor surface but did not remove all scratches. The white pad removed scratches with a loss in gloss. The yellow pad provided a more lustrous surface and all scratches were removed. The green pad completely removed the scratches, but provided a surface that actually had the same luster as the original surface. It was found that the white pad, yellow pad and green pad provided a very clean floor.

In a fourth additional test, Applicant's pads were tested for wet polishing of Amtico® vinyl tile floors treated to a glossy finish with floor finish wax. Initially, the surface had numerous scratches. The gloss value of the floor was measured before and after the treatment at five points separated by the gloss meter described above, whereby the average gloss value was calculated after the treatment using each pad type. For reference, dry polishing was performed using a green pad. The results are shown in Table 9.

<tables num="9"><img file="JP2012024923A_D0009.tif" /></tables>

From Table 9, it can be seen that the 3M® red pad provides a lustrous floor surface, but once again failed to remove all scratches from the floor surface. The white pad provided a clean matte surface, while the yellow pad provided a clean, slightly more lustrous surface. The results from the green pad when used for wet polishing were reasonably better than the results from the yellow pad. Once again, the green pad when used dry provided a very glossy and clean surface. It was found that the white pad, yellow pad and green pad provided a very clean floor.

In a fifth additional test, the applicant's pad was tested for dry polishing of the linoleum floor surface. The first surface was treated with floor finishing wax. The gloss value of the floor was measured before and after the treatment at five points separated by the gloss meter described above, whereby the average gloss value was calculated after the treatment using each pad type. The results are shown in Table 10.

<tables num="10"><img file="JP2012024923A_D0010.tif" /></tables>

From Table 10, the white pad provides a more matte surface, while the 3M® red pad offers only a slight improvement, while the surface treated with the yellow pad provides a more matte surface than the control surface. It turns out that it is recognized as glossy. The green pad provides a very glossy and clean surface. It was found that the white pad, yellow pad and green pad provided a very clean floor.

In a sixth additional test, the applicant's pad was tested for wet polishing of the linoleum floor surface. The first surface was treated with floor finishing wax. The gloss value of the floor was measured before and after the treatment at five points separated by the gloss meter described above, whereby the average gloss value was calculated after the treatment using each pad type. The results are shown in Table 11.

<tables num="11"><img file="JP2012024923A_D0011.tif" /></tables>

From Table 11, it can be seen that the 3M® red pad provides a very matte surface, while the white pad provides a matte surface and completely removes the polished surface. The yellow pad provides a matte finish while removing the polished surface. The green pad provides a slightly more lustrous finish compared to the yellow pad. It was found that the white pad, yellow pad and green pad provided a very clean floor. It was also found that when the floor was dry-polished using a white pad, a yellow pad or a green pad after wet polishing, a gloss value similar to the gloss value in Table 10 was provided.

Therefore, the pad can be used to grind and / or polish linoleum and plastic floors, such as floors with surfaces containing vinyl, polyurethane, epoxy, acrylic or other plastic materials. In particular, the pad is suitable for dry polishing of such surfaces.

In a seventh additional test, Applicant's pads were tested for dry polishing of lacquered parquet floor surfaces. In this test, an additional pad with 2-4 micron diamond particles and named "orange" was used. The gloss value of the floor was measured before and after the treatment at five points separated by the gloss meter described above. The results are shown in Table 12.

<tables num="12"><img file="JP2012024923A_D0012.tif" /></tables>

From Table 12, it can be seen that these pads can also be used to clean / polish lacquered surfaces. The use of the orange pad provides further gloss increase regardless of whether it is done on a surface with an initial gloss value of 40 or on a surface with an initial gloss value of 47-50.

Therefore, the pads disclosed herein are lacquered surfaces, such as lacquered wood surfaces such as wood parquet floors and other lacquered surfaces (eg, on patios or boats), wall surfaces, indoor moldings. It is concluded that it can be used to grind and / or polish doors, skirting boards, etc.

According to another aspect, to polish polymer surfaces, such as so-called "gel coat" surfaces, which are found on fiber reinforced plastic structures such as boats and typically contain resins and optionally pigments. The pad can be used.

According to yet another aspect, the pad can be used to grind and / or polish a glass surface, such as an automobile window / full glass, to remove small scratches and the like. You can.

According to yet another aspect, the pad can also be used to grind and / or polish the car body, and also to polish the painted surface on the car body, i.e., the car enamel.

Although the methods disclosed herein are suitable for regular treatment or maintenance, they can also be used for ad hoc polishing or grinding treatments.