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Abrasives for sandblasting

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Sandblasting abrasives | ARENA BLAST

Abrasives for sandblasting

Sandblasting abrasive

Choosing the right abrasive is key for optimal, durable results. It's important to consider the nature of the surface, the type of finish required and environmental imperatives.

For instance, for precise work, choose softer abrasives like glass beads or plastic ones. For more powerful stripping, opt for more aggressive materials such as fused alumina, corundum, or steel shot.

Finally, be sure to adopt the appropriate safety precautions for the safe and effective use of abrasive blasting media!

We explain everything on this page. If you still have any doubts, please don't hesitate to contact us.

What is a sandblasting abrasive?

A sandblasting abrasive is a solid material used in the sandblasting or shot-blasting process using a sandblasting cabinet or sandblasting machine.

Using a compressed air or water jet, abrasive particles are projected at high speed onto a surface to clean, strip, polish or prepare a material for treatment.

There are several types of abrasive with their own properties, such as a harder or softer material, to suit the surface to be treated and the blasting requirements.

The choice of abrasive is crucial, as it determines the effectiveness of the sandblasting operation, the quality of the final finish and its compatibility with the surface to be treated (wood, metal, stone, glass, plastic, etc.).

The abrasive is a consumable, recyclable or not, which allows the sandblasting agent to adapt its action to its needs.

Criteria for choosing a blasting abrasive

The choice of a sandblasting abrasive depends on several criteria, such as hardness and size, which influence the effectiveness and impact of the sandblasting process on the surface being worked.

To select the abrasive best suited to your needs, we advise you to consider the following criteria in your choice.

Abrasive shape

Angular abrasives tear off material to create roughness on the surface to be treated. These abrasives can be used for sandblasting or for preparation prior to painting, as the material is torn from the surface to create a grip.

Spherical abrasives bounce off the surface, smoothing, cleaning, and polishing it. In the case of spherical metallic abrasives, there are also sandblasting processes to create prestress, or shot peening, to increase the hardness of materials. 

Abrasive hardness

Each abrasive has a specific hardness that enables it to strike the treated surface with varying degrees of force.

Abrasive hardness is measured on the Mohs scale, which classifies abrasives according to their hardness.

The harder the abrasive, the more aggressive it will be, striking the treated surface with greater force. 

An abrasive with a high hardness is therefore better suited to impact-resistant surfaces, while one with a lower hardness is better suited to less resistant surfaces such as plastic or wood.

Grit size

Abrasive grain size refers to the size of the abrasive grains. It is one of the most important criteria for choosing a sanding abrasive, as it directly influences the degree of finish of the surface obtained after sanding.

Grit size is measured in microns and categorized as follows:

  • Fine grit (50-100 microns): this type of grit is best suited to delicate finishes, gentle cleaning, and polishing. The result is more precise and allows for more accurate work.

  • Medium grit (100-500 microns): medium grit is ideal for multi-purpose sanding, enabling light stripping while preserving the surface. Although their finish is not as fine as that of fine grit, they nevertheless allow you to work with respect for the surface to be sandblasted.

  • Coarse grit (500 microns and over): above 500 microns, this abrasive is used for intensive stripping and removal of thick layers of paint, rust or varnish on more resistant surfaces.

The choice of grit size therefore depends on the job in hand: finer grit sizes ensure a smooth finish, while higher grit sizes increase impact power and material removal rates.

Chemical composition

Depending on the material to be treated, it is sometimes necessary to pay particular attention to the chemical composition of the abrasive used.

Some abrasives are natural, others are synthetic or metallic, and depending on the surface, certain abrasives can alter the material to be treated.

It is important to select an abrasive that won't alter the material's final composition when used at high speed.

Recyclable abrasives and the environment

It's important to note that some abrasives can be recycled, meaning that they can be reused several times (glass beads, shot, etc.).

These “recyclable” abrasives enable you to reduce the cost of these consumables, as well as the environmental and ecological impact of your sandblasting operations.

A recovery system must be installed on your sandblasting machine. This specific equipment separates the impurities from the abrasive so that it can be reused with all its properties.

The several types of sandblasting abrasives

There are several categories of abrasives, each adapted to specific applications. 

We recommend that you use the abrasives best suited to your operations, to guarantee optimum results and risk-free use.

Mineral abrasives (natural or synthetic)

Mineral abrasives are of natural origin (although later synthesized) and were the historic abrasives used in sandblasting operations.

In this category, for example, we find sand, a historic abrasive, which is no longer used in favor of other abrasives with properties more suited to certain blasting operations. Sand has even been banned as a health hazard, as it contains silica, which causes serious lung disease. 

Mineral abrasives also include corundum (aluminum oxide), which is an extremely hard abrasive often used in powerful stripping operations, such as the treatment of metals, which resist this kind of hardness well.

Garnet is also an efficient mineral and natural abrasive, producing less dust in use. It is ideal for environmentally friendly applications.

Metallic abrasives

Metallic abrasives are harder, enabling work on more resistant surfaces.

Steel shot, for example, is used for industrial stripping of metallic materials and for surface preparation prior to painting.

Steel beads, with their stainless-steel properties, enable micro sandblasting and are often used in surface polishing or shot peening processes.

Glass and ceramic beads abrasives

Glass or ceramic beads abrasives have the particularity to not altering the surface to be treated. This means you can work on any surface without the risk of the abrasive mixing with it and altering its composition.

Glass beads are ideal for gentle cleaning of a variety of surfaces.

Plastic abrasives

Abrasives made from plastics enable sandblasting operations without deforming the structure or material of the material being treated.

It should be noted that plastic abrasives are less hard than others and are therefore generally used for more delicate stripping and cleaning operations to avoid deforming the material being worked on during the blasting process.

Safety tips for using blasting abrasives

Abrasive sandblasting, though highly effective, requires strict precautions to avoid risks to the safety and health of the blasting operator.

Arena Blast recommends the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to guarantee operator safety and protect health.

Hoods and helmets are available to protect the blasting operator from inhalation of fine dust. Complete, hermetically sealed overalls prevent abrasives from penetrating the blasting machine operator's clothing.

In the absence of a full-face helmet, a mask and goggles are the minimum in terms of personal protection for the operator.

Protection of the hands, which are in direct contact with the abrasive, is also essential. Protective sleeves or gloves are available to guarantee safety during sandblasting.

Finally, a good dust extraction system is essential to limit airborne dust and guarantee a healthy working environment.

The use of certain abrasives (such as sand containing silica) is regulated due to the risk of silicosis. It is important to comply with current standards to ensure safe use and avoid impacts on the health of the sandblasting operator.