The Advantages of Abrasives in Aviation Part Manufacturing

When it comes to the production of aviation parts, there is a significant focus placed on the precision and accuracy of manufacturing processes. This is a result of the rigorous environments and stressors that final products face, where adhering to strict standards and specifications is necessary for safety, reliability, and performance. Achieving this goal thus requires the use of advanced manufacturing processes and high-quality materials, among which abrasives play a significant part. From surface finishing and polishing to deburring and edge rounding, abrasives are indispensable tools that regularly find use for many items and assemblies. This blog will provide an overview of the most common types of abrasives used in aviation manufacturing and their exact applications, ensuring you can familiarize yourself with the basics.

While varying in type, offered characteristics, and specific use, all abrasives are simply materials that feature rough surfaces or abrading elements that shape or finish a workpiece through friction. In the aerospace sector and other similar industries, they are used for removing various defects and irregularities from components, where the friction from sliding contact smooths out surfaces to obtain exacting specifications. As components can widely vary in size, shape, material, hardness, thickness, etc., specific abrasives will often be necessary for achieving certain results.

Abrasives are generally classified into two main categories, either being natural or synthetic. Natural abrasives are as one can expect, being naturally occurring materials like emery and diamond that feature highly advantageous characteristics for enacting controlled friction or rubbing to remove materials. Diamonds in particular are one of the hardest known naturally-occurring materials, making them particularly effective in grinding and cutting materials to finish parts. Typically, they are used in the manufacturing of turbine blades, engine components, and other important items that rely on specific shapes and profiles to optimally perform their functions. Cubic boron nitride (CBN) abrasives are second only to diamonds in hardness and are particularly effective in grinding high-temperature alloys and hardened steels used for producing engine items and other high-stress parts.

While natural abrasives have found use across applications for centuries, modern technological advancements have brought about the rise of synthetic materials that are popular as a result of their enhanced properties and consistency. One of the most common synthetic abrasives used in aerospace manufacturing is aluminum oxide, its hardness and durability being ideal for grinding and surface finishing applications. Additionally, it is also able to efficiently remove materials while ensuring a smooth finish at the end, driving its use for the creation of high-performance parts. For example, these materials are key in the production of engine components, landing gear, and other critical parts that require tight tolerances.

Another widely used synthetic abrasive silicon carbide, which provides ample hardness and sharp edges that are ideal for cutting and precision grinding. Specifically, these materials work well with lightweight materials like composites and non-ferrous materials, where their edges can quickly cut through. As modern aircraft designs continue to increase their use of carbon fiber and other substances for achieving optimal strength-to-weight ratios, silicon carbide will continue to remain popular as an abrasive.

In addition to their use in grinding and cutting, abrasives are also employed in surface finishing and polishing processes. A smooth and defect-free surface is essential for any components that will be exposed to high stress or harsh environmental conditions, as it removes any burrs, scratches, or other imperfections that may detract from performance and longevity. For example, burrs may increase friction with other parts while scratches provide recesses for substance ingress and further damage, making the smoothing and polishing process very necessary. Polishing also simply enhances the aesthetic appeal of components, which can be important for elements that will be visible in the final assembly.

Deburring and edge rounding are other critical applications of abrasives in aerospace product production, and it is generally carried out after machining or cutting, where components will still have sharp edges or burrs. These unwanted features can lead to issues like final products not fitting into assemblies or leaving sharp edges that can cause injury, making it necessary for further smoothing. This process is particularly vital in the production of parts that will be handled frequently or assembled with other components, promoting ease of use and safety.

In conclusion, abrasives are essential elements in manufacturing, playing a significant role in achieving the precision and surface integrity required for aerospace components to meet rigorous industry standards and expectations. For customers seeking competitive options on all forms of abrasives and aviation parts, ASAP Military Aviation offers a comprehensive selection of high-quality products to meet diverse demands. Take the time to explore our expansive product catalogs that are organized across the website, and be sure to make use of our online Request for Quote (RFQ) forms for obtaining pricing information on desired parts when you are ready. Our staff is also just a call or email away from providing consultation and service, so never hesitate to reach out to see how ASAP Military Aviation can optimally address your needs.