Abrasive Blasting - The Best Coating Removal Technique   by Rizvana Abdul

in Business    (submitted 2012-01-24)

Abrasive blasting is a type of coating removal method in which small or fine particles are propelled at high pressures at the intended surface to clean and add surface texture. There are different types of abrasive materials used and at different pressures depending on the surface to be cleaned and coated. The roughness or texture created on the surface depends on the pressure at which the particles hit the surface; the harder the hit, cleaner and rougher the surface. This technique is very versatile and can be used for many types of surfaces like wood, metal, glass, stone, frosted glass and concrete.

Here are the different types of particles that are used routinely for abrasive blasting technique for surface preparation and adding profile:

Aluminum oxide is one of the materials employed in this process and is used for hard surfaces like metals. The uniform grit size of this compound allows for smoother cleaning and texture; it is also sharper in nature which allows the process to happen faster. The second type of particle used in abrasive blasting is coal slag which is also known as black magic or black magnum because of its color. It is greatly recommended when working with steel surfaces and is quite economical too. This material is also routinely employed for removing old paint, scale and rust from metallic surfaces.

Beads are also used for blasting and these can be steel, glass or plastic beads. Glass beads are great for obtaining both satiny and matte finishes while steel is best for harder surfaces like metal. Plastic is normally employed for removing old paint especially from fiberglass because of its relatively mild nature. Organic blasting is another technique that makes use of organic materials like corn cob and walnut shell. This method is especially useful is the surface has to be cleaned thoroughly but gently and has to be used for organic purposes like storing food stuffs or other similar media.

Sand blasting is the cheapest and most economical but can only be carried out in open spaces as the process is quite dusty with a lot of debris. Soda blasting is the other type of abrasive blasting in which baking soda is used to clean and create surface profile. It is commonly employed for cleaning automobile surfaces and food processing equipments as it is safe for use. It is also delicate and non-toxic in nature saving a lot of time in the process.

About the Author

Abrasive blasting is one of the most recommended techniques for removal of coatings from all kinds of surfaces. There are several materials that can be used for blasting purposes like coal slag, glass, plastic and soda. To learn more about this procedure, you can visit the site www.pandcmaintenance.com