Why can grinding wheels with organic bonds be made thinner than vitrified wheels?
Grinding wheels with organic bonds can be manufactured much thinner than vitrified wheels because of the lower temperatures used during their production.
While vitrified wheels require high-temperature firing in kilns at 1,260° C (2,300° F), organic-type bonds—such as resins, rubber, or shellac—are baked at significantly lower temperatures between 150° and 200° C (300° and 400° F). This lower heat allows for the inclusion of reinforcing materials like fiberglass, steel rings, or molded-in threaded bushings directly into the wheel. These reinforcements increase the wheel's resistance to breakage from side pressure, providing the structural integrity necessary to create thinner profiles that can function effectively as saw blades for cutting various materials.1