Guide
What you should know about blasting!
Blasting is one of the most versatile and effective methods for cleaning, processing, and finishing surfaces. Whether it is metal, precious metal, concrete, stone, glass, or wood, the right blasting media can thoroughly remove even stubborn dirt, corrosion, or old paint layers.
In this guide, you will learn everything about the different blasting abrasives: their applications, grit sizes, grain shapes, hardness and purity grades, as well as environmental and health protection.
Benefits of blasting:
In compressed-air blasting, blasting abrasives is propelled at high pressure onto a surface. This removes rust, paint, dirt, and deposits. At the same time, a roughened, clean surface is created that is ideal for subsequent coatings or painting. With the right blasting abrasives, the surface can be processed in a targeted manner—from fine cleaning to intensive rust removal in various cleanliness grades SA‑3, SA‑2 ½, SA‑2, and SA 1.
In sandblasting, the term “sand” is now more symbolic. In the past, natural sand was actually used, but for health reasons (risk of silicosis) this is no longer permitted in many countries. Instead, silicosis-safe blasting abrasives are used today, varying depending on the application and material.
Today, only blasting abrasives that are safe for health—single-use or reusable—in various grain shapes, grit sizes, and hardness grades are used for surface processing.
In modern blasting technology, sustainability plays a central role.
The targeted use of single-use or reusable blasting abrasives made from environmentally friendly secondary raw materials, recycling and reuse, and environmentally sound disposal of blasting abrasives can reduce costs and conserve resources. With a wide selection of different blasting abrasives, you can achieve an optimal blasting result and a better environmental footprint.
How to blast sustainably:
- Select only environmentally friendly blasting abrasives that are safe for health.
- Also consider origin and delivery routes to reduce CO2 emissions.
- Use low-dust blasting abrasives to ensure a clean working environment.
- Always select blasting abrasives according to your specific job requirements.
Single-use and reusable blasting abrasives differ in how they are used: single-use blasting abrasives are generally used once, while reusable blasting abrasives can be reused multiple times.
Can blasting abrasives be reused?
Yes, many blasting abrasives can be reused in closed blasting systems with reprocessing. Reuse saves material costs, reduces waste, and protects the environment. However, reuse with simultaneous reprocessing is not technically and economically feasible for all blasting work in outdoor areas. Therefore, the blasting task always determines whether single-use or reusable blasting abrasives should be selected.
Single-use blasting abrasives
Environmentally friendly, health-safe single-use blasting abrasives made from secondary raw materials, thereby conserving natural resources, still play an important role in outdoor blasting today. Origin, delivery time, and security of supply are becoming increasingly important in the selection process. Single-use blasting abrasives made from secondary raw materials from the European Union have been preferred blasting abrasives for decades.
Reusable blasting abrasives
Reusable blasting abrasives such as metallic blasting abrasives or corundum blasting abrasives are preferably used in closed blasting systems. The blasting abrasives are accelerated either by compressed-air or wheel-blasting technology. Depending on use and application, garnet sands, glass blasting media, and even slag blasting abrasives can also be used multiple times. Most reusable blasting abrasives, such as corundum or garnet, come from deposits or production outside the EU.
The grit size (particle size) has a significant impact on the blasting result. A fine grit size (e.g., 0.04–0.18 mm) is suitable for sensitive surfaces, gentle cleaning, and light roughening. Medium grit sizes (e.g., 0.20–1.40 mm) are particularly suitable for many applications in rust removal and surface preparation for coating. Coarse grit sizes (1.40–2.80 mm) are used for heavy soiling, baked-on deposits, or preparing thick coatings. With the right selection, you can specifically influence the cleanliness grades and thus the blasting results. In addition, selecting the right blasting abrasives also has a major impact on dust generation during blasting, consumption, and therefore cost-effectiveness.
Blasting abrasives consumption
Efficient use of blasting abrasives reduces consumption and saves costs. Therefore, optimize the pressure at the nozzle, the nozzle diameter, the blasting angle and distance, as well as blasting duration. Regular maintenance of the entire blasting equipment also improves blasting results.
Blasting abrasives recycling
Recycling and thus reusing blasting abrasives is sustainable and economical. Reusable blasting abrasives can be used multiple times. By selecting the right blasting abrasives and using modern recycling systems, raw materials are conserved, waste is minimized, and environmentally friendly working practices in the surface processing industry are supported.
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