Abrasive blasting (also known as shot blasting) involves propelling an abrasive material against the surface – either to remove surface contaminants like rust, paint or residue, add texture or finish a surface.

Though there are several types of abrasives used for shot blasting, these typically fall into two categories – reusable and expendable.

Read on to find out more about the different types of abrasive media, including examples and common applications, and how you can determine the best blast media for your project.

 

Reusable abrasive media

Exactly as its name implies, reusable media can be used over and over again, helping to reduce waste and operational costs.

Here are just a few examples of the reusable abrasives we supply at SFEG:

  • Aluminium oxide – an angular and durable type of abrasive ideal for cleaning and removing corrosion, as well as roughening, etching and decorating surfaces.

 

  • Glass bead – a spherical and chemically inert media often used in blasting cabinets for polishing, peening, and removing light burs and foreign matter.

 

  • Steel grit (Profilium) – a hard and angular abrasive used for cleaning and etching painted and corroded parts. It can also be to prepare surfaces for bonding.

 

  • Steel shot – an abrasive media with spherical grains made from steel, commonly used in air-powered, wheel blast and floor blast systems for cleaning, deburring and finishing.

 

Expendable abrasive media

Unlike their reusable counterparts, expendable abrasives cannot be recycled or recovered. They’re designed for one-time use and tend to be cheaper to purchase.

Some of the most common include:

  • Abrablast Medium – a mixture of inert recycled angular glass grit and calcium silicate used for most shot blasting applications.

 

  • Garnet – a hard and angular natural mineral that produces low levels of dust when used in Satblast Wet Blast Systems.

 

  • Iron Silicate – a synthetic mineral abrasive boasting a dense structure, suitable for cleaning and preparing surfaces for industrial coatings.

 

  • JBlast SC – a light-coloured calcium silicate synthetic that’s great for delicate applications (i.e. stonework, wood masonry renovation, graffiti removal).

 

  • Olivine – a naturally occurring magnesium-iron silicate offering a safe alternative to sand, which can be used for cleaning bricks and stones.

 

  • Stonegrit – a calcium silicate synthetic mineral abrasive used for stone and brick face cleaning or graffiti removal. It can be used to clean stainless steel, aluminium and other metallic surfaces too.

 

How to choose abrasive blast media

Choosing the right blast media depends on your desired effect as abrasives vary in hardness, density, shape and particle size. Therefore, you need to think carefully about the task at hand and the method of delivery.

If you’re not sure whether the surface you’re blasting can handle an abrasive material, our best advice is to choose something softer. This way, you won’t need to worry about it causing etching.

If you’re after a smooth, bright finish, glass beads are ideal. Not only do they provide minimal stress on the surface material but they’re also recyclable – making them a cost-effective option.

Alternatively, for general cleaning applications, paint removal and glass etching, choose a harder abrasive like aluminium oxide. This will roughen the surface, ready for a final coating to be applied.

 

Need an expert opinion?

If you’re unsure which type of abrasive is best for your application, get in touch with the team at SFEG. We’re always on hand to help and will be more than happy to guide and advise you, ensuring you make an informed decision.

Simply give us a call on 0161 480 8087 or email sales@sfeg.co.uk.

Already decided what blast media you need? Well, why not take a look at our extensive range? We provide top-quality abrasive blasting equipment at some of the most competitive prices around – meaning you should have no problem finding abrasives to suit your project and budget.