Abrasive element for use in a rotary grinding or polishing tool

An abrasive element for use in a rotary grinding or polishing tool for grinding or polishing surfaces is described, of the type comprising an elongate profile rail (2), an abrasive cloth (4) and a supporting brush (5). The abrasive cloth (4) and the supporting brush (5) are mounted in the profile rail (2) or on the profile rail (2) in such a way that the abrasive cloth (4) is supported on its non-active side (15) by the supporting brush (5). The abrasive cloth on the outer side of the profile guide rail (2) has an abrasive cloth height (9) in the vertical direction (7) and an abrasive cloth length (12) in the longitudinal direction (3). The supporting brush (5) and the abrasive cloth (4) have different heights from the profile rail (2) supporting brush height (11) and abrasive cloth height (9), respectively, so that the abrasive cloth (4) ends in an exposed edge area extending beyond the top of the supporting brush (5) and extending a short distance along the exposed end (10) of the supporting brush (5). The exposed edge region (19) forms, in use, an active region (17) of the active side (16) of the abrasive cloth (4). The abrasive cloth (4) is coated with an abrasive material (18) consisting of particles of, for example, diamond (21) or the like only in the active area (17). The abrasive cloth (4) has an exposed abrasive cloth edge (8) and is cut from the side of the abrasive cloth edge (8) remote from the profile rail in a direction parallel to the vertical direction (7) to form strips (6). The particles are arranged in adjacent rows (26) such that the particles of grinding material of one row (26) are arranged such that the particles are offset relative to the particles in an adjacent row (26). The rows (26) of particles are spaced apart (29) so that the grinding particles overlap in the longitudinal direction (3) of the abrasive cloth.