What Is Media Blasting?
Media blasting is a surface treatment process, widely used in a variety of different industries with many diverse purposes. The process utilizes abrasive media, which is accelerated through a blasting nozzle by means of compressed air. The abrasive used varies, based on the surface treatment required.
Traditionally media blasting was considered a “low tech” process, generically called sand blasting. Today, however, media blasting is a vital process, not only to remove rust but to prepare surfaces for high performance coatings or impart products with the lustre & surface texture desired by the retail consumer. We offer a comprehensive in house blasting service. If you have any questions or wish to discuss your requirements, please get in touch
Types Of Blast Media
Media selection is a crucial decision in the engineering of abrasive blasting processes. Each media type has a different hardness, shape & density, and each is available in a wide range of particle sizes. In order for sample processing to take place, it is often necessary to lock in the final media type and size. Media blasting equipment varies throughout the industry; there are hand cabinets, dedicated automatic high production models, and completely robotic systems with closed loop process controls. The type of machine utilized depends on the surface treatment applied, as well as the end use of the component.
This type of media is ideally suited for surface preparation in the fabrication industry, particularly where blasting is not contained within a blast room. Typically used in the construction of chemical plants, power stations, mining and processing equipment, gas & sewerage plants, desalination and industrial plants. Other uses are to be found in the building industry and structural steel, construction and maintenance of containers and tanks, tank trucks and rail tanks, as well as wagons and coaches, stone building facades and monuments and stainless steel. Our GMA Garnet has many unique & money saving advantages:
- Superior cleaning rate – up to twice the performance of conventioanl expendable abrasives, with more grains per volume (typically 28 million grains per kilogram) of active abrasive particles impacting the surface.
- You can achieve a rate of 20-25m2 per hour.
- SA3 White Metal is effortlessly achieved.
- The shape and size of the grains ensure an even surface profile of 45-55 microns at 100psi at the blast nozzle.
Produced from soda-lime, glass beads are used for peening and the removal of almost any surface blemish. They can be used safely for texturing or producing attractive cosmetic finishes, without damaging the base material. Being totally inert, there is no risk of corrosion or any contamination whatsoever. Unless excessive blasting occurs, there is no alteration in the dimensions of the treated surfaces. Strict control of both manufacturing and grading processes ensures consistency of finish.
Virgin Brown Aluminium Oxide is a sharp, fast-working abrasive, ideally suited for hand cabinets and blast rooms. Used wet or dry, where ferrous blasting abrasives are not suitable, due to the risks of corrosion and magnetisation involved. Ideal for extremely hard workpieces. Reclaimed aluminium oxide is a cheaper alternative to virgin brown but not as cost effective, due to increased break down when blasting at high pressures.