What is Abrasive Blasting?

Abrasive blasting is a procedure to perform the cleaning and finishing action. It is applied to surfaces for preparation before the finishing phase. Abrasive blasting replaces wire brushing, pickling, and sanding procedures essentially.

As opposed to hand cleaning, abrasive blasting increases efficiency by 25 to 75%. The abrasives used in blasting are relatively inexpensive and reusable so blasting is economical; it requires less time to clean parts and minimally trained personnel to do the job.

Other benefits of abrasive blasting:

• Makes good finish better
• Creates a better tooth for bonding
• Increases the surface area for metal by as much as ten times

Pressure

Direct pressure machines, as opposed to siphon machines, require less pressure. Lower pressure helps to reduce the hardening of surface and warping of thin parts. A direct pressure machine normally operates at 15-80PSI, while a siphon operates at 60-90 PSI. If you increase the pressure above 90, it causes the medium to breakdown and does not improve the cutting rate.

The Sandblast Gun
Abrasive blasting is not a peening process but a scrubbing action. That being said, a gun should be held at an angle of 60 to 45 degrees to the surface that is being cleaned. Holding it at 90 degrees will cause you to perform peening which is not required. By holding the gun in a siphon machine at least six inches apart, you can make sure that the spray covers a larger area. For the effectiveness of the direct pressure units, it is essential to maintain a distance of one foot, which will also help leave a more appealing finish.

The Gun Nozzle
It is important to select a high quality nozzle; otherwise, it would add to the operational cost. Tungsten carbide nozzles are a great choice. Consider choosing a smaller nozzle if the compressor cannot work alongside the blaster. If there is ample pressure at the gauge but not in the gun, something could be stuck in the nozzle or in the abrasive pickup line.

The type of abrasive used can affect the finish obtained. It is also influenced by the adjustment of air pressure in the blasting machine. Some commonly used abrasives are white aluminum oxide, urea, aluminum oxide, pumice, and steel grit. Make sure to replace the entire load when the abrasive in the machine breaks down for increased efficiency.



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Keywords: abrasive blasting

By: Zhushou Rui

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