Sandblasting Application
ABRASIVE BLAST MEDIA
ABRASIVE BLAST MEDIA
SELECTING THE RIGHT ABRASIVE
A coating is only as good as the preparation of the underlying surface.
Professional wet abrasive blasters know that choosing the right abrasive is key to achieving a
coating application that lasts. With the right abrasive, you’ll maximize profits by getting the job
done faster while expending the minimum volume of abrasive.
These are the factors to consider when choosing your abrasive.
SURFACE CHARACTERISTICS
As a general rule, the blaster should use the finest abrasive necessary to attain the required
surface preparation characteristics. A fine abrasive will give you more impacts per volume. The
more particles in the stream, the more work is accomplished in the same time. When blasting
concrete or wood, you don’t need a hard, expensive abrasive, or a coarse particle: crushed
glass makes an excellent, inexpensive choice for work on relatively soft surfaces.
However, when preparing iron and steel for a protective coating system, there are additional
considerations. Coatings adhere poorly to hard, flat surfaces, so the blaster is required to develop a
pattern of indentations that the coating can anchor to, aka the anchor pattern.
THE ANCHOR PATTERN
When a sufficiently hard abrasive particle strikes steel, it deforms the surface into a valley and
pushes up peaks. The distance between the top of the peak and the bottom of the valley is known
as the depth profile.
In the U.S., the depth profile is measured by mils – thousandths of an inch. In the metric system,
the micron(one millionth of a meter) is used.
1 mil = 25.4 microns.
For optimal adhesion, the applied coating should completely fill the valleys and cover the peaks.
The deeper the profile, the more anchoring occurs. However, if the profile is too deep, the peaks can
protrude beyond the surface of the coating, causing pinpoint rust and premature failure of the coating.
In some cases, the contractor may be required to go back over the area with a finer abrasive to
reduce the surface to specified profile depth – a costly mistake.
Generally, the correct profile depth will be 25-30% of the dry film thickness of the total coating
system. For most industrial coatings, the typical steel profile is between 2-3 mils, not normally
exceeding 5 mils.
An 80-mesh garnet particle leaves up to 3.6 mil depth profile in steel.
1. 177 microns = 7 mils
2. Peak
3. 76.2 microns = 3 mils
4. Valley
Before choosing your abrasive, check the data sheets from the coating manufacturer’s website to
obtain the optimum surface preparation conditions.
For example:
Iron & Steel – SSPC-SP6 – 2 mil profile.
ABRASIVE PROPERTIES
Knowing the surface characteristics and the profile depth you need to achieve; you are ready to
select your abrasive. There are four properties of abrasives that contribute to profile depth: size,
shape, hardness and density.
SIZE
All things being equal, the bigger the particle, the deeper indentation it will make, but blasting large
particles will give you less impacts than an equal volume of smaller particles. Small particles clean
faster, provide better coverage, and result in a more uniform profile. The most efficient approach is
to use the smallest particle necessary to achieve the desired profile.
Particle sizes are commonly classified by mesh sizes, often given a range, for example: 30/60. This
indicates that 95% of the mix will fall through a 30 mesh but not pass through the 60. The mesh size
number indicates the number of mesh lines per square inch in a sieve, ranging from 6 (coarse) to
327 (powder).
SHAPES
The shape of the article effects how deeply it cuts into the coating and underlying substrate. Shapes
are classified according to angularity.
Angular particles cut through soft coatings and rust, cleaning faster, and producing sharper anchor
patterns. Rounded particles produce a more even, peened surface, good for breaking away hard
brittle coatings and mill scale.
Rounded
HARDNESS
Generally speaking, the harder the particle, the deeper the profile it will impart, except in cases where
a high-velocity hard particle shatters, delivering less than optimum force.
Softer abrasives, like organic materials and plastics, are good for removing dirt, oil, grease and
paint without creating an anchor pattern in the underlying substrate.
Abrasives by Hardness (MOHS)
Plastic 3.0 - 4.0
Walnut 3.0 - 4.0
Glass Bead 5.5 - 6.0
Silica Sand 5 - 6
Crushed Glass 5.5 - 7
Coal Slag 6.0 - 7.5
Olivine 6.5 - 7.5
Staurolite 7.0 - 7.5
Garnet 7.0 - 7.5
DENSITY
Dense particles impact with more kinetic energy over a smaller surface area, resulting in a deeper
profile. Dense particles also deform less, absorbing less energy upon impact.
Abrasives by Density (Specific Gravity (g/mL)
Water 1.0
Walnut 1.2 - 1.35
Plastic 1.5
Glass Bead 2.5
Crushed Glass 2.5
Silica Sand 2.65
Coal Slag 2.7
Olivine 3.3
Staurolite 3.6
Garnet 3.5 - 4.3
VELOCITY
It comes as no surprise that high speed impacts cause deep profiles. Velocity is the only factor that
can be easily adjusted in the field. Once you’ve selected the abrasive that puts you in the ballpark,
you can fine-tune the depth profile by adjusting your blast pressure.
ABRASIVE DESCRIPTIONS
The following data is intended for orientation purposes only. These are approximations of general
product categories. Specific products vary significantly. Check the manufacturer’s data sheets for the
most current and accurate information.
Depth profile estimates are based on mild steel at 90-100 psi, nozzle at 18” at a 110-degree angle
using a Geo-blaster GB 600 wet abrasive blaster.
SILICA SAND
Silica sand is the original blasting abrasive, but is no longer recommended for blasting applications
due to the occupational hazard silicosis. It is included here for comparative purposes only.
Mesh sizes: 6-270 | Hardness: 5-6 MOHS | Density: 2.65 SG | Shape: Rounded |
GARNET
Garnet is a gemstone with excellent naturally abrasive properties. This hard abrasive is fast-cutting,
low-dust producing and low-consuming, excellent for removing tough coatings, paint, rust and mill
scale from steel. Garnet also permits precise feathering control. A good general outdoor surface
preparation abrasive.
Mesh sizes: 30-120 | Hardness: 7-7.5 MOHS | Density: 3.5-4.3 SG | Shape: Subangular |
DEPTH PROFILES FOR GARNET (for steel)
Mesh Size Max Profile Recommended Usage
30/60 2.4 - 4.7 mil Steel, Concrete, Asphalt, Aluminum
80 1.5 - 3.6 mil Steel, Concrete, Asphalt, Aluminum
120 0.5 - 2.0 Steel, Concrete, Asphalt, Aluminum, Fiberglass, Brick, Boat Bottom Paint
150 0.5 - 1.5 mil Steel, Concrete, Asphalt, Aluminum, Fiberglass, Brick, Boat Bottom Paint
CRUSHED GLASS
Made from 100% recycled glass, this abrasive creates a sharp profile and is useful in removing a
variety of coatings. It produces a whiter, cleaner finish than slags and mineral sands. Crushed glass
is the abrasive of choice for preparing concrete.
Mesh sizes: 30-400 | Hardness: 5.5-7 MOHS | Density: 2.5 SG | Shape: Angular |
DEPTH PROFILES FOR CRUSHED GLASS (for steel)
Mesh Size Max Profile Recommended Usage
20/30 2.5 - 4.5 mil Steel, Concrete, Asphalt, Aluminum, Fiberglass, Brick
30/70 2.0 - 3.5 mil Steel, Concrete, Asphalt, Aluminum, Fiberglass, Brick, Boat Bottom Paint
50/100 0.5 - 2.5 mil Steel, Concrete, Asphalt, Aluminum, Fiberglass, Brick, Boat Bottom Paint
MINERAL SANDS
Mineral sands, like olivine and staurolite, are fast-cutting, low dust abrasives that contain less than
5% silica per volume. Good for removal of rust, paint, weathered coatings and mill scale.
Mesh sizes: 20-120 | Hardness: 6.5-7.5 MOHS | Density: 3.3-3.6 SG | Shape: Angular to
subangular (olivine), subangular to rounded (staurolite) |
COAL SLAG
Coal slag is by-product of coal-burning power plants, considered a “green” abrasive because it would
otherwise be disposed of as waste. It is a relatively cheap, low dusting abrasive with low free silica,
but is considered a dirty abrasive and not widely used in wet abrasive blasting because the high
amount of “fines” (fine particles) mud up on the surface. Typical applications include the removal of
rust, paint, weathered coatings and scale from steel and concrete.
Mesh sizes: 12-80 | Hardness: 6-7.5 MOHS | Density: 2.7 SG | Shape: Angular |
GLASS BEADS
Glass beads are used for general cleaning, peening and cosmetic finishing of sensitive metal
surfaces; removing automotive paint; brightening grout and removing fungus and calcium deposits
from tile; polishing cast iron, stainless steel, aluminium, propellers and turbine blades.
Mesh sizes: 30-325 | Hardness: 5.5-6 MOHS | Density: 2.5 SG | Shape: Rounded |
PLASTIC
Plastic is a soft, light abrasive that leaves no anchor pattern, good for stripping paint and mold from
sensitive surfaces, deburring and deflashing aluminum, brass, plastics and fiberglass. Considered a
less-hazardous alternative to chemical stripping, and faster than hand-stripping.
Mesh sizes: 12-80 | Hardness: 3-4 MOHS | Density: 1.5 SG | Shape: Angular |
WALNUT
Nut shells and other organic materials don’t cause anchor patterns, making them useful for cleaning
dirt, grease, oil, carbon, scale, burrs and paint without changing the underlying substrate. Useful for
cleaning auto body panels, electric motors and aircrat engines, dies and molds, polishing watches ad
jewelry, and restoring antique surfaces.
Mesh sizes: 6-100 | Hardness: 3-4 MOHS | Density: 1.2-1.35 SG | Shape: Subangular |
SUMMARY
The right abrasive for the job is the finest grade that can impart the depth profile required by the
coating system.
Before purchasing abrasive, visit the manufacturer’s websites for the latest product specs, or browse
our directory of abrasive manufacturers product data sheets
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