Abrasive blasting media

Types of Abrasive Blasting Media

• Steel Grit

  This blasting media, angular and hard, is basically recycled steel. Preferred for its strength and hardness, it is widely used for hard surfaces and can be employed multiple times, making it cost-effective. Frequently found in shipbuilding, it helps in rust removal, hence prepping surfaces for protective coatings.

• Stainless Steel Shot

  Stainless steel shot, a non-ferrous and highly resistant material, serves retardance against corrosion and oxidation. It is usually applied to surfaces requiring durability and cleanliness. Besides, its multitude of uses goes from aircraft parts to oil rigs where resistance to adverse elements is key.

• Aluminium Oxide

  A fine or coarse angular material, aluminium oxide is highly durable and can be used on softer metals without leaving any residue behind. Its particular hardness and non-reactive nature make it ideal for etching glass and precision cleaning. Widely applied in aerospace and electronics due to its effectiveness in preventing contamination.

• Garnet Abrasive

  Angular and sharp-edged, garnet abrasives are derived from natural garnet sand, hard and efficient with a moderate softness. It is used in waterjet cutting for a plethora of materials, ranging from glass to steel. Also, having low environmental impact and minimal dust generation, it is ideal for lead-free surface preparation.

• Nut Shells

  Angular and biodegradable, nutshells are a renewable soft blasting media, neither as hard nor as long-lasting as metal grits. They are used for delicate parts, especially in reducing stress on softer materials. Also, effectively employed in cleaning automotive parts, it is friendly to the environment and often used in the food industry to clean and polish conveyor belts.

Industry Applications of Abrasive Blasting Media

• Automotive Sector

  The automotive industry has a wide application of abrasive blasting in cleaning, preparing surfaces, and painting. Steel grit is preferred for rust removal in older vehicles, providing a rough surface to ensure better paint adhesion. Additionally, aluminium oxide is utilized in etching and polishing critical engine components. Blasting also enables contaminants and residues to be expunged from intricate areas, thus significantly enhancing the vehicle’s overall finish and durability.

• Aerospace Industry

  Aerospace components demand both cleanliness and surface integrity. Blasting media like stainless steel shot and aluminium oxide are indispensable in removing contaminants, preparing surfaces for critical coatings, and resisting in-flight corrosion. For instance, sandblasting parts improves fatigue performance and enhances the lifespan. Moreover, no residual material is contained, ensuring that the parts maintain the required weight and performance.

• Shipbuilding and Marine Industry

  Abrasive blasting in shipbuilding facilitates rust prevention and paint adhesion. Steel grit acts as an efficient rust and old paint remover from vessels and metal structures. The blasting provides a strong anchor pattern for marine-grade paints and anti-fouling coatings that protect ships from harsh seawater environments. Additionally, the media’s repeated usability renders it economical for large-scale marine applications.

• Oil and Gas Industry

  Pipe and equipment surface preparation is an essential part of the process in the Oil and Gas industry, hence the use of abrasive blasting. Media like garnet abrasive are preferred for its clean cut and efficiency in preparing steel pipes for protective coatings in ultra-harsh environments. Furthermore, due to the fact that it generates minimal dust, it ensures that there is no contamination, thus improving worker safety and environmental conditions on-site.

• Building and Construction Industry

  Sandblasting facades and surfaces prepares new structures for further treatment. Media such as garnet and glass beads efficiently remove paint, rust, and old mortar from bricks and stones. Also, blasting guarantees a better finish for painting or sealing, thus enhancing the building's longevity. Due to its low environmental impact, blasting is ideal for historical buildings, preserving the material while achieving superior results.

Product Specifications and Features of Abrasive Blasting Media

Technical specifications

• Granite abrasive: Its grades include 20/40, 30/60, and 80 mesh, and the primary materials are hard rock, generally garnet. This minimizes contaminations due to the absence of heavy metals, and it’s a sharp angular media. It has a Mohs hardness of 7.5-8.0.
• Aluminium oxide: This type has mesh grades ranging from 14 to 120 mesh. Its primary materials are igneous rocks. With a Mohs hardness of 9, it is long-lasting and offers a cutting edge for superior surface finish.
• Steel grit: It comes in different sizes, among them 0.4-0.5, 0.6-0.8, and 1.0-1.2 mm. It has a density of 7.8 g/cm3, and the UKAS magnetic particle inspection standard grit size ranges between 0.75-2.5 μm. The primary material is steel, while the hardness level is 35-55 HRC.
• Walnut shells: It has grit sizes ranging from 20-30 to 100 mesh. The primary material is crushed walnut shells, and it naturally biodegrades.
• Glass beads: It comes with grit sizes ranging from 40-400 mesh. Its primary material is glass and spherical, with minimal wear on the substrate.

How to install

• Preparation: First, a small amount of material is put in the blasting pot before adding the abrasive blasting media.
• Able adjustment: The air pressure gauge is adjusted, ensuring the suitable pressure level for the blasting media to flow out.
• Blast pot pressuring: The blast pot lid is sealed, and the pot pressurized, enabling the abrasive media to flow through the hose.
• Testing: A small test area is blasted after the hose being connected to the gun trigger to check whether the pressure is correct.

How to use

• Surface Preparation: The surface is first cleaned, and contaminants are removed using blasting media. Setting the pressure helps the media flow during blasting.
• Blasting Process: While wearing protective equipment, the gun is directed to the surface after connecting the air compressor. The trigger is pulled to start blasting. Meanwhile, the media is controlled and mixed with air, while the gun is moved in uniform across the surface.
• Finishing: After completing the process, the area is checked for evaluation and determination of whether additional blasting is necessary.

Maintenance and repair

• Regular cleaning: After finishing the work at hand, the equipment should be cleaned, with remains of abrasive materials being removed to avoid clogging.
• Check hoses and fittings: Frequent checks of hoses for leaks and cracks are vital, and any worn-out or damaged parts should be replaced.
• Monitoring the nozzle: In case of diminished performance, it should be a point of concern to examine the nozzle, as worn-out nozzles reduce blasting efficiency.
• Lubrication: A regular application of lubricant on moving parts ensures efficient operation. Also, while in storage, covering the equipment protects it from dust and debris.
• Pressure maintenance: Proper pressure levels mean both wear and tear are minimized, hence regular checking of pressure levels is essential. Lastly, refer to the manufacturer’s manual for maintenance schedules.

Quality and Safety Considerations of Abrasive Blasting Media

• Proper Storage

  Storing blasting media properly is imperative in safeguarding its quality. The media is to be stored in a dry area so as not to allow moisture from affecting its effectiveness, mainly if the materials are susceptible to absorbing moisture, such as garnet or glass beads. Furthermore, contaminants such as dust or debris must be kept at bay by tightly sealing the containers holding the media. This ensures that all its natural and original properties are well preserved for optimal performance. Therefore, supply consistency is achieved through proper media storage.

• Containment and Control of Dust

  Dust generation can have both health hazards and environmental impact, thus necessitating proper management. Therefore, using blasting booths or enclosures that recapture abrasive blasting media contributes to minimizing air pollution and providing healthier work conditions. Also, water or foaming agents are applied to suppress dust clouds. The mentioned techniques are efficient in reducing airborne dust, thus accomplishing compliance with occupational safety standards. This will in turn lead to reduction of risks associated with inhalation by workers, hence improvement of safety records.

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

  PPE use is a fundamental requirement since blasting operations produce hazardous conditions. These may include inhalation of dust, noise, and flying particles, which may injure personnel if no protective measures are taken. Thus, ensuring workers are well suited with respirators, face shields, and noise-canceling headsets goes a long way in preventing possible injuries and ensuring continuous operation. Moreover, regular assessment of PPE is worn out, as well as proper training on its usage, ensures that workers are well-protected, fostering a safer working environment while simultaneously promoting adherence to safety regulations.

• Media Selection

  Selection of suitable abrasive blasting media is critical in both quality assurance and safety. For example, softer materials like walnut shells generate lesser dust compared to harder ones, hence posing less risk to health. Also, compatibility with the work surface determines the quality of the result; improper media can damage the substrate or cause inefficient processing. Furthermore, due to the presence of certain hazardous materials during the blasting process, such as lead or silica, one should be concerned about their potential impacts. Thus, choosing low-hazard media and assessing the risk associated with each type are among the vital steps in a better management process.

• Regular Maintenance

  Regular maintenance of blasting equipment plays a key role in both safety and quality assurance. Also, faulty equipment can lead to inconsistent blasting pressure or media flow, resulting in subpar surface preparation or hazardous situations arising. In contrast, thorough inspection and maintenance of hoses, nozzles, and air compressors enhance efficiency and minimize potential accidents. Apart from that, it also guarantees that the outcome produced meets the required standards. Besides, maintenance records allow for the prolonging of the equipment’s life, which saves costs, thus having an impact on the environment.

Q&A

Q1: What is abrasive blasting media?

A1: It refers to the materials used for cleaning, preparing, or finishing surfaces through the process of abrasive blasting.

Q2: What are the common types of abrasive blasting media used?

They include steel grit, aluminium oxide, garnet abrasive, glass beads, and walnut shells.

Q3: What are the effects of improper selection of abrasive blasting media?

Improper selection can lead to surface damage, ineffective cleaning, safety hazards, and increased operational costs, apart from environmental contamination.

Q4: What is the significance of using walnut shell in abrasive blasting?

Walnut shells are biodegradable, gentle on surfaces, and effective in removing contaminants without causing damage, making them suitable for delicate blasting tasks.

Q5: What are the benefits of using stainless steel shot?

Benefits include corrosion resistance, durability, surface strengthening, and minimal media contamination, thus making it ideal for aerospace and marine applications.