What are the structural differences between sandpaper and sandcloth?

First of all, sandpaper is made by sticking abrasive stuff to a paper base with an adhesive. The paper base can be different types like kraft paper, latex paper, water-resistant paper and so on. These kinds of papers give the sandpaper flexibility and some strength, so it can be used for grinding on all kinds of shapes and surfaces. The abrasive particles are spread evenly on the paper surface through the adhesive, making a layer that can cut and grind.

But emery cloth is made by sticking the abrasive stuff to a fabric base. The fabric base is usually made of fiber materials, like cotton cloth or synthetic fiber cloth. Compared to the paper base, these fabric bases are tougher and more durable. They can stand more grinding pressure and longer grinding operations. The abrasive particles are also fixed to the fabric base through the adhesive. But because of the features of the fabric base, emery cloth often has better wear resistance and tear resistance.

Besides the difference in the base materials, there can also be differences in the size, distribution and arrangement of the abrasive particles between sandpaper and emery cloth. But these differences usually depend on the specific production process and application needs. For example, sandpaper might have a finer abrasive particle size and a more even distribution, so it's suitable for fine grinding and polishing jobs. While emery cloth might have a coarser abrasive particle size and a denser arrangement to give higher grinding efficiency and a faster ability to remove materials.