Abrasive
Abrasives Media
Abrasive is the material used for the surface treatment process. These are widely used in a variety of different industries with many diverse purposes. Blasting is the process by which an abrasive media is accelerated through a sand blasting nozzle by means of compressed air for surface preparation of the substrate. Commonly used abrasives include:
Steel Shot
Steel shot abrasive used in heavy-duty work, steel shot and is an excellent choice. The steel shot is round in shape. Steel shot is made from steel and comes in several varieties of hardness, size and shape. It is often used for debarring, shot-peening and for removing tough coatings and preparing for epoxy coating. It is an important media in prepping structural steel for use.
Steel Grit
Steel grit also used in heavy-duty work steel grit is an excellent choice. Steel grit is angular in shape. Steel grit is made from steel and comes in several varieties of hardness, size and shape. It is often used for debarring, shot-peening and for removing tough coatings and preparing for epoxy coating. It is an important media in prepping structural steel for use.
Glass Bead
Glass beads vary in sizes and these are made from soda-lime. Glass bead implies very little stress on the substrate. Glass beads are used preparing metal surfaces for painting and powder-coating and for removing unwanted burrs, rust, paint and scale.
Aluminum Oxide
Aluminum oxide is angular in shape and hard. It can be reusable easily. Aluminum oxide is durable and low in cost. Aluminum oxide is a popular choice for debarring jobs and grinding because of its hardness and low cost. Aluminum oxide is of round-off edges and comes in a variety of sizes also.
Silicon Carbide
Silicon carbide is the hardest medium of sandblasting. Because it is so hard and it requires less time than the other abrasive media. Silicon carbide comes in several sizes ranging from coarse grit to a fine powder. Silicon carbide is useful for polishing hard rock like granite.
Plastic Media
Plastic Media has a wide range of uses in sandblasting. This is due to the fact that plastics are variable in size, hardness, shape and density. Plastic can be manufactured according to different needs. Plastic Media come from polycarbonate, polystyrene or other similar compounds of polymers. Plastic is very useful for sandblasting in aerospace, auto, marine, and fiberglass industries.
Walnut Shell
Walnut shell is used as excellent abrasive media. Because Walnut shell is naturally occurring and it is not so hard. Walnut Shell is mostly useful for more delicate applications like cleaning and polishing.
Corn Cob
Corn cob is ground up and use as a sandblasting medium. Corn cob is safe and easy to use on delicate components and use to remove grime, grease, water and coatings while leaving the underlying surface largely unscathed. Corn cob is reusable.
Baking Soda
Baking Soda sandblasting refers to the use of baking soda or bicarbonate of soda in the sandblasting process for surface preparation. Baking soda is used to remove rust from metals without causing depression or damaging the metal rough surface.
Copper Slag
Copper slag is a type of coal slag abrasive material. Copper slag is extremely coarse and making it perfect for use in auto and industrial maintenance and repairs.
Staurolite
Staurolite is an abrasive that is mined from metamorphic rocks. Staurolite is used for removing thinner coatings of paint, mill scale and rust. Staurolite produces less dust than other abrasives because of less dust make it easier for operators to do blasting easily.
Sand
Sand is a major component in the sandblasting process. Sand is used less these days because of producing more dust. Sand also content its silica content which is breathed by operators and it can lead to serious illness. Sand content moisture and with moisture, it is hard to do blasting properly.
Silica Sand or Silicon Dioxide
Silicon Dioxide is referring to as ordinary sand. It is also known as silica or quartz. Silica sand commonly used for removing impurities from surfaces.