Abrasive grit blasting, or sand blast cleaning, is a surface treatment process widely used in a variety of different industries with many diverse purposes. Abrasive blasting is the process by which an abrasive media is accelerated through a blasting nozzle by means of compressed air. The abrasive used varies based on the surface treatment required.
Common abrasives used include:
- Steel shot
- Steel grit
- Glass bead
- Crushed glass
- Aluminum oxide
- Silicon carbide
- Plastic
- Walnut shell
- Corn cob
- Baking soda
- Ceramic grit
- Copper slag
Traditionally abrasive grit blasting has been considered a “low tech” process, generically called sand blasting. Today, however, abrasive blast cleaning is a vital process used not only to remove rust, but to prepare surfaces for high performance coatings or to treat final products to give them the luster and surface texture desired by the retail consumer.