Abrasive (Invention)

Invention of Abrasive

Abrasives as a class are simply hard substances used to rub-nard material to form softer substances. It is believed that sand was used for polishing weapons made of stone as far back as 25,000 BC. Diamonds were used as abrasive materials in India in 700 BC. By the Middle Ages grinding wheels of quartz and flint fragments were used. Sandpaper was developed later, then came fine grained materials such as emery paper. The first important synthetic abrasive was carborundum made in 1891. They are widely used in both industry and the home for polishing, grinding, cleaning and shaping.