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Sandblasting is an abrasive media blasting
process. A rapid flow of propulsion air carries media at a high rate of speed
onto the surface to be blasted, abraded, scoured, cleaned or profiled (in rapid
succession) by breaking away small pieces of undesirable coatings, corrosion or
other substances. It is the amount of acceleration, amount of media, and impact
of media on the work surface that produces the desired results.
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There are two basic types of media, “soft”
media and “hard” media.
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Soft media is used when the material is to be
cleaned, scoured, and abraded. In realty, soft media is used as more of a
cleaning agent than an abrasive. These media are generally used where the
substrate to be cleaned and/or stripped cannot be profiled.
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Hard media is used when the material is to
be profiled.
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For many years silica
sand was the most commonly used blasting media, however it poses a very serious
health hazard. Long term exposure to free floating silica can cause a lung
disease called silicosis. Silicosis is a respiratory disease that has no cure
and is 100% fatal. This health concern has led O.S.H.A. and the E.P.A. to
restrict the use of silica sand in many parts of the country.
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There are however,
many safe alternatives to silica sand, including a coal slag called Black
Beauty, glass beads, crushed walnut shell and garnet. |
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