An abrasive element comprising a substrate having on a surface thereof particles of an abrasive material secured by a non-metallic binding medium wherein at least the surface of the element between the particles of abrasive material contains a fluorochemical selected from the group consisting of compounds comprising a fluorinated aliphatic group attached to a polar group or moiety and fluoropolymers having a molecular weight of at least 750 and comprising a non-fluorinated polymeric backbone having a plurality of pendant fluorinated aliphatic groups, said aliphatic groups comprising the higher of

(a) a minimum of three C-F bonds, or
(b) in which 25% of the C-H bonds have been replaced by C-F bonds such that the fluorochemical comprises at least 15% by weight of fluorine. The fluorochemical may be applied as a layer coated over the existing layers of an abrasive element or it may be incorporated into at least the coating formulation which will form the outermost layer of the binding medium. The abrasive elements may be in the form of sheets, blocks, discs, pads, belts etc. The presence of the fluorochemical serves to reduce the loading of the abrading surface in use, thereby extending the working life of the abrasive element.