What Is Sandblasting?
Sandblasting utilizes the impact of high-speed sand flow to impact sand or other granular materials onto the surface of the object being treated, in order to achieve the purpose of cleaning, removing dirt and improving surface quality.
How the sandblasting process works
The main principle of sandblasting is to utilize the impact force of sand particles sprayed at high speed to remove the dirt, oxidized layer, coating and other substances on the surface of the object to be treated, so as to restore the surface to be smooth and suitable roughness, and provide a good foundation for the subsequent coating, painting, plating and other processes.
can be applied to the surface treatment of various materials, such as metal, glass, ceramics, plastics and so on.
What are the abrasives required for the sandblasting process?
Grit
This is the most commonly used material in sandblasting, and common grits include quartz sand, glass sand, and aluminum sand. They are characterized by high hardness and moderate surface roughness, and can effectively clean up contaminants, remove oxidation layers, fatigue cracks, etc.
Glass particles
Glass particles have a more uniform and delicate surface texture compared to sand particles, and are suitable for surface treatment of objects with high requirements for finish, such as electronic product shells and precision parts.
Metal particles
Such as wire particles, aluminum particles, etc., with high hardness and abrasion resistance, suitable for metal surfaces for surface spraying, spray grinding, removal of casting surface oxidation and other operations.
Ceramic particles
Usually made of alumina, silicon carbide, etc., with high abrasion and temperature resistance, suitable for applications with high requirements on the surface of the workpiece, such as aerospace and automotive.
Steel shot
A ferrous alloy material that is hard and durable, often used to remove more stubborn surface dirt and oxidized layers.
Rubber Grit: A soft sandblasting material typically used to treat materials with sensitive surfaces, such as plastics and glass.
Copper Ore.
A natural mineral sand characterized by moderate hardness, good abrasion resistance and chemical stability.
In addition, there are other materials, such as brown corundum, white corundum, steel wire brush, coconut shell particles, etc., can also be determined according to the actual application requirements.
Different materials have different hardness and roughness and can be selected according to different treatment needs.
When selecting materials, factors such as the material of the object to be treated, the surface state, the treatment requirements and the safety and environmental protection need to be considered to ensure the effect and quality of sandblasting treatment. At the same time, attention should also be paid to operational safety to avoid injury to staff.
Is sandblasting harmful to human body?
During the sandblasting process, tiny particles from sandblasting may adversely affect human health.
In the case of long-term sandblasting work, these tiny particles may be inhaled and cause damage to the respiratory tract and lungs. With prolonged exposure to sandblasting, the dust within the sand may enter the lungs through the respiratory tract and accumulate, which in turn may cause pneumoconiosis, leading to symptoms such as coughing, chest pains, as well as difficulty in breathing. In addition, dust from sandblasting may also come into contact with the eyes, causing eye irritation and damage to the cornea and conjunctiva, inducing diseases such as keratitis and conjunctivitis.
However, in the case of occasional sandblasting operations, such as sandblasting for teeth cleaning, the effects may be much less severe. Nonetheless, sandblasting teeth cleaning may still irritate the gums and trigger bleeding gums, so you should pay attention to brushing and rinsing your teeth diligently after cleaning.
In addition to the direct impact on human health, there are some potential risks associated with sandblasting operations, such as personnel operational risks, equipment failure risks, environmental risks and safety management risks. To minimize these risks, operators should receive professional training and wear appropriate protective equipment such as earplugs, masks, goggles and gloves.
