Diamond Frankfurt Abrasive
Commonly known as Frankfurt Abrasive or horseshoe abrasive block, these are clip-on diamond abrasives designed specifically for fully automatic continuous polishing lines processing marble, travertine, and terrazzo. They fit standard horseshoe-style holders and are compatible with marble polishing lines from manufacturers such as Keda, Breton, Simec, and Intermac (8/12/16/20-head configurations). They differ from the long-strip "Fickert" abrasives (L140) used specifically for granite.
In daily practice, these standard Frankfurt Abrasive blocks are frequently referred to as "T3" blocks.
Standard Specifications
Universal T105 (106 × 95 × 40 mm); a smaller T80 model is also available for compact, 8-head machinery. The standard abrasive layer thickness is 40 mm, with options for thickened, wear-resistant layers (45 mm or 50 mm) and customized versions featuring diagonal water-cooling channels for heat dissipation.
Classification and Usage
In practical applications, metal-bond Diamond Frankfurt abrasive blocks are typically used in the initial stage of the production line to aggressively remove deep saw marks, eliminate surface unevenness, and ensure uniform slab thickness. Resin-bond Diamond Frankfurt blocks are then used for the subsequent stage to refine the surface texture, remove fine scratches, and achieve a high-gloss mirror finish (90–105°); soft-resin variants are specifically designed for processing translucent onyx and porous stones, preventing edge chipping and avoiding permanent scratches.At the same time, magnesite-bond Frankfurt abrasive blocks and Oxalic Acid Frankfurt Abrasive are also remain popular in the market.
Metal Bond Diamond Frankfurt
Sintered copper-cobalt metal matrix with coarse diamond grit #24–#320, super aggressive cutting power to remove deep saw scratches and level uneven slabs. Ultra long service life for 24h mass production of hard marble & terrazzo.
Resin Bond Diamond Frankfurt
Elastic phenolic resin matrix with fine diamond grit #120–#3000 & buff blocks, delivers scratch-free high mirror gloss. Custom soft flexible resin formula for fragile luxury onyx & travertine without edge chipping.
Magnesite Frankfurt Abrasive
Magnesite-based "Frankfurt" blocks—commonly known as "horseshoe" blocks—are cost-effective intermediate grinding consumables for fully automated marble polishing lines. Free of diamond, they utilize a magnesium oxide (magnesite) and magnesium chloride binder matrix with black silicon carbide (SiC) as the cutting medium. Designed to fit standard T105 "horseshoe" (T3) base plates, they are compatible with Keda, Breton, and Simec marble polishing lines (8–20 heads).
Oxalic Acid Frankfurt Abrasive / 5 Extra / 10 Extra
Oxalic acid Frankfurt-style polishing blocks—commonly known as "oxalic acid horseshoe polishing blocks" or "yellow polishing blocks"—are specialized consumables used for the final mirror-finish brightening and cleaning stage on fully automated marble polishing lines. Free of diamond abrasives, they utilize a core polishing medium composed of oxalic acid crystals and fine alumina powder. They feature a standard T105 horseshoe base (T3) and are compatible with the full range of Keda, Breton, and Simec automatic marble polishing lines (8, 12, 16, and 20-head models).
In addition to the aforementioned Frankfurt abrasives, we also offer a range of abrasive consumables—often referred to as Frankfurt abrasive blocks—that feature T3 Frankfurt bases and utilize materials such as sponge fiber, wool, silicon carbide filaments, and diamond-impregnated nylon filaments.
product comparison
Comparison of Key Parameters for Four Types of Frankfurt Abrasive Blocks
| Comparison Item |
Metal-Bond Diamond Frankfurt
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Resin-Bond Diamond Frankfurt
|
Magnesite Frankfurt
|
Oxalic Acid Frankfurt
|
| products |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Core Medium | Diamond Abrasive | Diamond Abrasive | Magnesium oxide + silicon carbide | Oxalic acid + alumina (diamond-free) |
| Process Stage | Initial coarse grinding, thickness calibration | Intermediate polishing, high-gloss mirror finishing | Low-cost transitional grinding | Final brightening & cleaning |
| Service Life (Per Piece) | 35,000–52,000 m² | 18,000–30,000 m² | 1,200–3,500 m² | 8,000–15,000 m² |
| Cutting Intensity | Very strong; rapid stock removal | Gentle and refined; produces high gloss | Relatively weak | Chemical yellowing removal, mirror-like clarity, surface cleaning |
| Polishing Finish | Deep scratch pattern; no mirror effect | Refined and mark-free; high gloss | Average gloss; prone to surface streaking/blemishes | Crystal-clear, haze-free, resolves color variation |
| Suitable Stone Types | Hard marble, terrazzo, thick repaired slabs | Marble, travertine, translucent onyx/jade | Standard soft marble (small-scale workshops) | Marble, travertine, and jade only |
| T105 Bulk FOB Price | $ 17-28 | $ 12-20 | $ 2-5 | $ 3-7 |
How to select suitable resin bond diamond frankfurt blocks for marble polishing line?
- Confirm machine base size: Standard T105 horseshoe fits all Keda/Breton 8–20 head marble lines; T80 for small low-speed machines.
- Choose proper resin hardness: Soft elastic resin for fragile onyx & travertine; hard anti-aging resin for common marble & terrazzo mass production.
- Match correct grit sequence: #120–#600 for medium grinding, #800–#3000 & buff for mirror finishing, do not skip grit sizes.
- Diamond concentration: 125% for 24h non-stop factory, 100% universal, 75% for small intermittent workshops.
- Segment thickness: 45/50mm thick segment for longer service life, 40mm standard cost-effective type.
- Working condition adjustment: Pick anti-aging formula if cooling water supply is insufficient.
FAQ
Q: What’s the difference between resin, metal and magnesite frankfurt blocks?
A: Metal bond frankfurt owns super strong cutting power and longest lifespan for rough slab leveling; resin bond frankfurt features flexible elastic matrix to produce scratch-free high-gloss finish for fine polishing, ideal for luxury onyx; magnesite frankfurt is low-cost economical medium grinding abrasive for small marble factories. They must be matched together to complete a full marble polishing sequence.
Q: Can resin bond frankfurt polish luxury onyx stone?
A: Yes, we supply customized soft elastic resin formula frankfurt exclusively for fragile onyx, travertine and limestone. It polishes gently without deep scratches or edge breakage, the perfect choice for luxury stone mirror finishing.
Q: Does T105 resin frankfurt fit all Keda automatic marble polishing machines?
A: Absolutely. Our universal T3/T105 horseshoe base with standard mounting holes matches all Keda 8/12/16/20-head marble continuous polishing lines directly, no machine modification needed. Custom non-standard sizes are available for bulk orders.
Q: What grit sequence uses resin bond frankfurt on marble line?
A: Standard full polishing flow: Metal bond frankfurt #36/#60/#120 → Magnesite frankfurt #240/#400 → Resin bond frankfurt #800/#1500/#3000/Buff for final mirror gloss finishing. Do not skip grit sizes to avoid residual scratches on slab surface.
Q: Is soft resin frankfurt for onyx more expensive than regular marble resin frankfurt?
A: Yes. The flexible anti-scratch elastic resin formula for fragile onyx and travertine adds special soft fillers, so it costs $3–$6 higher per piece than standard hard resin frankfurt for ordinary marble.
Q: Is thicker segment resin frankfurt worth buying for mass production lines?
A: Yes. 45–50mm thick wear layer extends service life by 18%–25%, reducing frequent downtime for abrasive replacement for factories running 24 hours a day.
Q: Can resin diamond fickert replace metal fickert for rough slab leveling?
A: No. Resin bond fickert has weak cutting power, it cannot remove deep saw scratches and large unevenness. Metal bond fickert must be used for front rough calibration first.
Q: How many square meters can one resin bond diamond frankfurt polish?
A: Under standard conditions with sufficient cooling water and 20mm marble slabs: Medium grit #120–#600: 18,000–28,000 square meters per piece Fine mirror grit #800–#3000 & buff blocks: 22,000–36,000 square meters per piece Our upgraded anti-aging resin formula extends service life by 15%–20%. Lifespan will drop sharply without enough cooling water or when polishing hard terrazzo & epoxy-repaired marble.
Q: Why resin frankfurt is cheaper than metal bond frankfurt?
A: Resin bond frankfurt adopts low-cost phenolic resin matrix without high-cost copper-cobalt metal powder and high-temperature sintering process. It is designed for fine mirror finishing stage instead of heavy rough calibration, with moderate raw material cost, ideal for after-medium grinding polishing.
Q: How does metal bond frankfurt lifespan compare with resin & magnesite frankfurt?
A: Metal bond diamond frankfurt has the longest service life. It lasts around 1.5 times longer than resin diamond frankfurt, and 15~20 times longer than magnesite horse-shoe abrasives, greatly cutting downtime for large 24h marble production lines.
Q: What is the service life of metal bond diamond frankfurt blocks?
A: Lifespan depends on grit, marble hardness and cooling water supply, tested on standard 20mm marble slabs with full circulating water cooling: Coarse grit #24–#80: 35,000–48,000 square meters per piece Medium rough grit #120–#320: 38,000–55,000 square meters per piece Our upgraded high-cobalt metal formula extends service life by 15%–20% compared with ordinary metal frankfurt. Service life will drop sharply without enough cooling water or polishing hard repaired marble & terrazzo.
Q: When should I choose metal bond frankfurt instead of resin or magnesite frankfurt?
A: Choose metal bond frankfurt if you need strong cutting power and ultra-long service life for rough leveling of thick marble slabs. It is the best choice for mass production lines with large material removal volume.
Q: What is the function of oxalic acid frankfurt blocks?
A: It is the last polishing step for marble slabs. Oxalic acid chemically dissolves surface oxidation and yellow stains, aluminum oxide fine powder eliminates tiny orange peel marks, to achieve transparent high mirror gloss.
Q: Difference between oxalic frankfurt and resin diamond frankfurt?
A: Resin diamond frankfurt removes medium scratches and provides basic gloss in middle grinding stage; oxalic acid frankfurt only works for final brightening & stain cleaning to fix hazy slab surface, it contains no diamond particles and cannot grind deep scratches.
Q: Can oxalic frankfurt polish granite?
A: No. Oxalic acid only reacts with carbonate stone like marble & travertine, it has no polishing effect on siliceous hard stone such as granite and quartzite.
As one of the most experienced diamond frankfurt abrasive enterprises in China, we are able to meet the needs of the majority of our customers. Please feel free to wholesale advanced diamond frankfurt abrasive made in China here from our factory. For price consultation, contact us.