ABRASIVE ARTICLE

1 . An abrasive article comprising:

a flexible backing having opposing first and second surfaces;

abrasive features on the first surface of the flexible backing; and

an adhesive layer comprising load bearing particles and an adhesive matrix, the adhesive layer disposed on the second surface of the flexible backing,

wherein at least a portion of the load bearing particles is substantially enveloped in the adhesive matrix and is in contact with the second surface of the polymer substrate.

2 . The abrasive article of claim 1 further comprising a rigid support attached to the adhesive layer comprising the load bearing particles.

3 . The abrasive article of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the load bearing particles is in contact with the rigid support.

4 . The abrasive article of claim 1 , wherein the flexible backing is selected from the group consisting of metal foil, cloth, paper, vulcanized fiber, non-woven materials, polymeric materials, ceramics, or composites thereof.

5 . The abrasive article of claim 4 , wherein the polymeric substrate is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, polyimide.

6 . The abrasive article of claim 1 , wherein the load bearing particle has an average diameter that is substantially equal to the thickness of the adhesive layer.

7 . An abrasive article comprising:

a backing having opposing first and second surfaces;

abrasive features on the first surface of the backing; and

an adhesive layer comprising load bearing particles and an adhesive matrix, the adhesive layer disposed on the second surface of the backing,

wherein at least a portion of the load bearing particles is substantially enveloped in the adhesive matrix and is in contact with the second surface of the polymer substrate.

8 . The abrasive article of claim 1 wherein the backing is one of rigid or flexible.

9 . A polishing pad comprising:

a flexible backing having opposing first and second surfaces;

an adhesive layer comprising load bearing particles and an adhesive matrix, the adhesive layer disposed on the second surface of the flexible backing, wherein at least a portion of the load bearing particles is substantially enveloped in the adhesive matrix and is in contact with the second surface of the polymer substrate; and

abrasive features located at an interface of the first surface of the flexible backing with a substrate, the abrasive features polishing the substrate during motion of the polishing pad relative to the substrate.

10 . The polishing pad of claim 9 wherein the abrasive features comprise one or more of an abrasive material attached to the first surface, a slurry of free abrasive particles located at the interface with the substrate, or a combination thereof.

11 . The polishing pad of claim 9 comprising one or more fluid bearing features on the first surface configured to generate lift forces during motion of the polishing pad relative to the substrate.

12 . The polishing pad of claim 9 wherein the first surface comprise at least one of topography following or topography removing feature.

13 . The polishing pad of claim 9 wherein at least a portion of the load bearing particles is in contact with a rigid support.

14 . A method of making an abrasive article comprising the steps of locating an adhesive layer comprising load bearing particles and an adhesive matrix between a second surface of the flexible backing and rigid support, wherein at least a portion of the load bearing particles is substantially enveloped in the adhesive matrix and is in contact with the second surface of the polymer substrate.

15 . The method of claim 14 wherein a least a portion of the load bearing particles is in contact with the rigid support.