Abrasive blasting
Abrasive Blasting, commonly known as sandblasting, is a controlled surface preparation technique used extensively across manufacturing and structural engineering.
Process and Purpose
The process involves forcibly propelling a stream of abrasive material—such as sand, grit, glass beads, steel shot, or walnut shells—against a surface using compressed air or a centrifugal wheel.
The primary purposes are two fold:
- Cleaning and Preparation: It effectively removes contaminants like rust, mill scale, old paint, corrosion, and welding slag. This creates a clean, roughened surface profile (anchor pattern) that is crucial for ensuring optimal adhesion of subsequent coatings, such as paint, epoxy, or hot-dip galvanizing.
- Finishing: It can be used for deburring, texturing, or creating a specific aesthetic finish on manufactured components.
Controlling the type of abrasive, air pressure, and nozzle distance allows engineers to achieve the precise surface profile required for durable, long-lasting industrial applications.