What are the abrasives for sand blasting?

For sandblasting, common abrasives include:

1. Sand

  • Description: Originally the most common abrasive, consisting of naturally occurring grains of silica.
  • Applications: Cleaning and preparing surfaces, though less common now due to health risks associated with silica dust.
  • Pros: Readily available and inexpensive.
  • Cons: Can be hazardous to health (silicosis) and less effective than other abrasives for certain applications.

2. Glass Beads

  • Description: Spherical beads made from crushed glass.
  • Applications: Achieving a smooth, polished surface; cleaning delicate parts.
  • Pros: Produces a smooth finish, less abrasive on the substrate.
  • Cons: Less aggressive; not suitable for heavy rust or paint removal.

3. Aluminum Oxide

  • Description: Hard, angular particles made from aluminum oxide.
  • Applications: Heavy-duty cleaning, surface profiling, and removing tough coatings.
  • Pros: Durable, reusable, and effective for aggressive blasting.
  • Cons: More expensive compared to some other abrasives.

4. Silicon Carbide

  • Description: Extremely hard and sharp abrasive made from silicon carbide.
  • Applications: Heavy-duty applications requiring fast cutting, such as removing thick coatings or preparing hard surfaces.
  • Pros: High cutting speed and efficiency.
  • Cons: More expensive and may be too aggressive for some applications.

5. Steel Grit

  • Description: Angular or rounded steel particles.
  • Applications: Cleaning and deburring metal surfaces, creating a rough texture for better coating adhesion.
  • Pros: Durable and reusable; provides a rough finish.
  • Cons: Can cause wear on blasting equipment; may leave metal residue.

6. Plastic Media

  • Description: Made from various plastic materials, such as polyester or urea.
  • Applications: Cleaning delicate parts, removing coatings without damaging the substrate.
  • Pros: Gentle on surfaces, reduces risk of damage.
  • Cons: Less effective for heavy-duty cleaning; can be more expensive.

Each abrasive type has its specific use case based on the desired surface finish and material being treated. The choice of abrasive affects the efficiency, cost, and quality of the sandblasting process.

MACHMASTER offers a wide variety of metal part fabrication and has its own sandblasting and anodizing surface treatment shop. From mechanical parts to electronics housings, we have experience fabricating parts for multiple industries.

Similar Posts