The Norton A975 3X high-performance abrasive disc combines load-resistant stearate coating, flexible backing, and P-graded ceramic aluminum oxide to give 3X the performance of standard paper discs. This disc is used for preparing primed and painted surfaces, sanding plastics and fiberglass, and bare wood sanding on composites, marine gel coat, furniture, and nonferrous metals.

Coated abrasives have individual abrasive grains spaced at a predetermined distance from one another. This is a closed-coat disc. A closed coat covers 100 percent of the surface with abrasive grains, for more stiffness and better surface finish than an equivalent open coat, where abrasive grit covers 50 to 70 percent of the surface. The paper backing is flexible, and offers a more consistent finish than a cloth or fiber backing, while being thicker and more durable than a polyester film backing. This disc is suitable for use with a die grinder or orbital sander. NorGrip hook and loop fastener is easy to press on and tear off, and helps make disc changes fast. Use with molded rubber back-up pads on a grinder, using a hard pad for aggressive cutting, a medium pad for general purpose applications, or a soft pad for contours and fine finishing work. Or, with a random orbital sander, use a foam back-up pad to match the application. Foam pads come in different combinations of shape and density for finer or more aggressive work. For example, use a low profile for uniform contact with the work surface, a tapered edge for small contours or inside corners, soft density for 320 grit and finer sanding, and medium density for grits coarser than 320.

Ceramic aluminum oxide is tougher than aluminum oxide, and is self-sharpening. It is formed in a process where alumina gel is dried and then crushed. These engineered crystals fracture and refracture at fine levels, to form a smooth, self-sharpening abrasive material. Ceramic aluminum oxide is most commonly used for medium-to-high material removal on metals. P-graded abrasive grains are held to a closer tolerance than non-P-graded abrasives, which means that they offer a more consistent surface finish.

Abrasives are used for a variety of applications from shaping a part to fine finishing, depending on the grit size. Low grit numbers like 40 are coarse and are used for removing excess material and shaping a part. High grit numbers like 400 are fine and help to create a smooth surface finish.

Norton Abrasives manufactures a wide variety of sanding, grinding, and polishing abrasives, and has been located in the United States since 1885. In 1990, Saint-Gobain purchased Norton, keeping its manufacturing facilities and offices in the same location. Norton/Saint-Gobain has been recognized as a Global 100 Sustainable Company, as well as earning ISO 9000 and 14001 certification for quality and environmental management standards.