Abrasives are a hard material, substance or mineral which is used to grinding, abrading, scouring, removing, and shaping of solid materials, hard surfaces or work pieces, through the process of rubbing and cleaning. The primary physical properties of this material made of materials such as rubber, clay, resin or glass, include hardness, friability, toughness, grain shape and size, and degree of purity, as it should have a strong bonding affinity and should be able to withstand heat.
A type of abrasives, called as coated abrasives, are fixed to a backing material such as paper, cloth, resin, polyester or metal, and are used in the form of grinding wheels, sandpapers, honing stones, polishes, and a number of other tools. Abrasives are used in a wide range of industrial sectors, including industrial, domestic, technological and commercial in a range of processes that includes buffing, honing, cutting, polishing, drilling, sanding, and sharpening to shape or finish a work piece. Highly precise components and ultra-smooth work pieces are made with the help of abrasives.