Abrasive blasting media consists of abrasives that remove, clean, prepare, and finish a surface. Compressed air or a centrifugal force using a bladed wheel are used to propel the media against surfaces to achieve the desired result. Media blasting abrasives are directed at surfaces for various reasons as mentioned and are used in many types of applications.
The process is used most of the time to prepare surfaces for coating by removing unwanted paint, rust, scale, or contaminants from the surface. This is done to enhance adhesion for coatings or improve the appearance of the surface.
Determining the Surface Profile Created by Media Blasting Abrasives
The surface profile created by the abrasive is determined by the various characteristics of the abrasive blasting media, such as shape of the abrasive, bulk density, number of times the abrasive may be recycled for effective reuse, and hardness.
The different characteristics of abrasive media result in the creation of different surface profiles with the use of each media. For example, harder abrasive blasting media are more useful for the purposes of removing rust and corrosion, and creating a surface profile. Softer abrasive media are typically used for cleaning applications.
Abrasive Blasting Media Applications
Abrasive blasting media is used in an extensive array of industrial applications, including automotive, aerospace, and medical. These industries find using media blasting abrasives results in faster results and better cleaned surfaces on their products or items. Many types of abrasive blasting media are recyclable and reusable to one degree or another.
Additional benefits of using abrasive blasting media include:
• Operator safety. Using abrasive media for cleaning is less risky from a health standpoint than using other cleaning methods. However, operators must use proper personal protective equipment (PPE) with its use.
• Surface Profiling. Using various media sizes and types, the resulting profile of the surface can be easily controlled.
• Efficiency. Abrasive media blasting can treat areas of an object that are more difficult to reach by other methods.
• Eco-friendliness. Many media blasting abrasives are made from natural materials and are recyclable.
Abrasive media blasting is a powerful tool to produce surface results that are essential in many industry applications. Choosing the right abrasive media is important for achieving optimum results.
