Types of Surface Abrasives. Below is a brief description of the different types of sandblasting abrasives. As you can see “sandblasting” is broad term now referred to as media blasting.
Acrylic – aircraft surface and delicate parts.
Aluminum Oxide Grit (Standard) – Aluminum Oxide Grit is a sharp, long-lasting abrasive sandblasting cutting media that can be re-used many times for grit blasting.
Coal Slag – is generally used paint, rust, and scale have to be removed from steel, such as car/truck frames, tanks, heavy machinery, farm equipment, etc. It contains 0.1% or less silica, is moisture free and is best used for: rust removal, heavy scale removal, paint and coatings removal on heavy-gauge steel
Corn Cob Blasting Media – is a biodegradable blast media that will not etch or warp surface being blasted. Ideal for applications such as wood log homes and thin metals and plastics.
Crushed Glass Grit is a silica-free consumable abrasive that offers aggressive surface profiling and removal of a variety of coatings. Manufactured from 100% recycled bottle glass, Crushed Glass Grit produces a whiter, cleaner finish relative to mineral/slag abrasives.
Glass Beads Blasting Media – Creating a softer, brighter finish than angular abrasives, Glass Beads offer a silica-free option for shot blasting, peening, honing, cleaning and light deburring. Glass Beads can be recycled up to 30 times.
Melamine Plastic Blasting Media – the hardest of the plastic abrasives and ideal for applications that require a high stripping rate without damage to the sub-surface. Type III grade per MIL
Pumice Blasting Media – is the softest of all the blasting media yet still offers excellent stripping properties. Excellent for blasting surfaces such as soft wood to remove paint and coatings with no impact on the substrate.
Sand (Silica) – is great for removing paint from surfaces such as exterior walls, sidewalks, decks, and other surfaces
Silicon Carbide Blasting Media – Silicon Carbide is the hardest blasting media available. Silicon carbide has a very fast cutting speed and can be recycled and re-used many more times that either sand or aluminum oxide. The hardness of silicon carbide allows for much shorter blast times and lower overall cost per hour relative to other blast media.
Soda Blasting Media – Soda abrasive is an environmentally friendly. A crystallized version of baking soda is excellent for stripping paint off vehicles, boats or other restoration projects. Will not damage glass, chrome or rubber and can be used for all general cleaning jobs. Ideal for cleaning an engine compartment or other equipment. Soda will not pit or warp metal surfaces and offers easy cleanup by just washing away with water.
Steel Grit Blasting Media – is an angular carbon steel designed for quick and effective removal of surface contaminants from metals. Softer than Aluminum Oxide and less likely to fracture, Steel Grit leaves an etched surface superior for adhesion of paints and coatings.
Steel Shot Blasting Media – is ideal for peening applications to impart a clean, smooth and polished finish. This dense, smooth shot can be used up to 3,000 times producing minimal dust during the blasting process increased compressive strength of the metal.
Plastic Blasting Media– most heavily used plastic abrasive. Available in a variety of sizes, urea is ideal for applications such as auto restoration to deliver an efficient stripping rate without damage or warping of the substrate.
Walnut Shells Blasting Media – is the most versatile of the organic media due to its angular, durable shape yet is still considered a soft media. Use as an economical, biodegradable alternative for sensitive blasting operations that require aggressive stripping without affect on the substrate.
White Aluminum Oxide Blasting Media – is a 99.5% ultra-pure grade of blasting media. White Aluminum Oxide is increasingly being used in critical, high performance processes such as microdermabrasion. White Aluminum Oxide is also required where contamination from other metal oxides must be kept to a minimum.