Aluminum Oxide Grit
Aluminum oxide is one of the most widely used blasting media due to its hardness, toughness, and recyclability. It is highly effective for removing rust, coatings, and oxidation from metal surfaces, as well as for preparing surfaces for painting or coating. Its angular shape allows it to create a sharp profile, making it ideal for applications requiring strong adhesion.
White Aluminum Oxide Grit
White aluminum oxide is a purer and more refined version of standard aluminum oxide. It is used in applications where contamination must be minimized, such as aerospace and medical industries. It produces a high-quality finish and is often preferred for precision blasting, polishing, and lapping.
Plastic Abrasive Grit (Urea, Melamine, Acrylic)
Plastic media are designed for applications where minimal substrate damage is required. They are commonly used for paint and coating removal on delicate surfaces, such as aircraft components and automotive parts. Urea, melamine, and acrylic plastics offer different levels of hardness and impact resistance, making them adaptable to various stripping and cleaning tasks.
Corn Cob Grit
Corn cob grit is a biodegradable and environmentally friendly media, ideal for cleaning surfaces without damaging them. It is commonly used in delicate industrial equipment cleaning, and polishing applications. Its soft nature allows it to remove contaminants while preserving the underlying material.
Walnut Shell Grit
Walnut shell grit is another organic, biodegradable abrasive that is slightly more aggressive than corn cob grit but still gentle on softer surfaces. It is widely used for cleaning engines, removing carbon deposits, and stripping paint from metal, wood, and fiberglass without pitting or etching.
Glass Beads
Glass bead blasting is known for producing a smooth, satin-like finish on metal surfaces. It is a non-aggressive, reusable media used for polishing, deburring, and cosmetic finishing, particularly in aerospace, automotive, and medical applications. Unlike angular abrasives, glass beads do not create deep surface profiles, making them ideal for applications requiring minimal material removal.
Pumice Grit
Pumice is a lightweight, volcanic-based abrasive that is ideal for cleaning soft metals, plastics, and stone surfaces. Its porous structure makes it effective for removing dirt, oxidation, and coatings without significantly altering the substrate. It is often used in jewelry, cosmetic, and industrial cleaning applications.
Crushed Glass Grit
Crushed glass grit is an eco-friendly abrasive made from recycled glass. It is an angular, aggressive media used for removing coatings, rust, and contaminants from metal, concrete, and wood. It provides an excellent surface profile for coating adhesion and is often used as a substitute for silica sand.
Silicon Carbide Grit
Silicon carbide is one of the hardest blasting media available, making it highly effective for fast-cutting applications. It is used for grinding, etching, and high-precision surface preparation in industries such as aerospace, electronics, and ceramics. Due to its extreme hardness, it is also one of the most durable and long-lasting abrasives.
Steel Grit
Steel grit consists of angular steel particles that provide aggressive cutting action. It is commonly used for surface preparation in heavy-duty industries, such as shipbuilding, pipeline maintenance, and structural steelwork. Its recyclability makes it cost-effective for large-scale operations requiring repeated blasting.
Steel Shot
Steel shot is a spherical abrasive used primarily for shot peening and surface strengthening. Unlike steel grit, which cuts into surfaces, steel shot impacts the material, compacting and hardening it. It is widely used in automotive, aerospace, and foundry applications to improve fatigue resistance in metal components.
Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Blasting
CO₂ blasting, also known as dry ice blasting, is a non-abrasive cleaning process that uses solid carbon dioxide pellets. These pellets sublimate on impact, leaving no residue, making this method ideal for delicate cleaning applications in food processing, electronics, and historical restoration. It is a preferred option for removing contaminants without altering the surface.
Other Common Blasting Media
Several other specialized blasting media are used for unique applications:
- Staurolite – A naturally occurring mineral used as an alternative to silica sand, offering good cutting action with reduced health risks.
- Bicarbonate Soda (Soda Blasting) – A soft, water-soluble abrasive used for cleaning delicate surfaces like glass, aluminum, and chrome.
- Garnet – A natural mineral abrasive that is highly effective for waterjet cutting and sandblasting, offering a balance of cutting power and environmental safety.
- Copper Slag – A byproduct of copper refining, used for aggressive cleaning and surface profiling in shipyards and industrial blasting applications.