We know sandblasting (blasting sand) as rough blasting. It is the operation of forcibly pushing a stream of sandpaper against a surface. Doing it under high pressure smooths, roughens or shapes a surface.
There are several variants of the process. Some are highly rough/irritating, whereas others are milder. The most rough are shot blasting and sandblasting. Moderately rough versions include glass bead blasting and plastic media blasting (PMB). They also include ground-up plastic stock or walnut shells and corncobs. Some of these substances can cause severe allergic reactions. A mild version is sodablasting (with baking soda). There are other choices that are barely rough or nonabrasive, such as ice blasting and dry-ice blasting.
Sandblasting
We know sand blasting as rough/irritating blasting, which is a general term for the process of smoothing, shaping and cleaning a hard surface by forcing solid particles across that surface at high speeds; the effect is just like that of using sandpaper, but provides a more even finish with no problems at corners or crannies. Sandblasting can happen naturally, usually as a result of particles blown by wind causing aeolian wearing away using pressurized air.
Sandblasting equipment consists of a room in which we mix sand and air. The mixture travels through a hand-held nozzle to direct the particles toward the surface or work piece. Nozzles come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Boron carbide is a popular material for nozzles because it resists rough/irritating wear well.
Wet abrasive blasting
Wet rough blasting uses water as the fluid moving the abrasives. The advantages are that the water traps the dust produced, and greases the surface. The water cushions the effect on the surface, reducing the removal of sound material.
One of the original pioneers of the wet rough/irritating process was Norman Ashworth who found the advantages of using a wet process as a strong other choice to dry blasting. The process is available in all ordinary formats including hand cabinets, walk-in booths, automated production machinery and total loss portable blasting units. Advantages include the ability to use very fine or rough media with densities ranging from plastic to steel and the ability to use hot water and soap to allow degreasing and blasting. The reduction in dust also makes it safer to use siliceous materials for blasting, or to remove dangerous material such as poisonous, radioactive or poisonous products.
Process speeds are usually not as fast as ordinary dry rough blasting when using the equal size and type of media. This is in part because the presence of water between newspapers, web sites, and TV and the supporting structure being processed creates an greasing cushion that can protect both the surface and newspapers, web sites, and TV, reducing breakdown rates. Reduced impregnation of blasting material into the surface, dust reduction and the elimination of static cling can result in a very clean surface.
Wet blasting of mild steel will result in immediate slow chemical breakdown of rust, etc. of the blasted steel supporting structure due to the presence of water. The lack of surface recontamination also allows the use of single equipment for multiple blasting operations can be processed in the same equipment with the same media without problems.
Sandblasting equipment usually consists of a room in which sand and air are mixed. The mixture travels through a hand-held nozzle to direct the particles toward the surface or work piece. Nozzles come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Boron carbide is a popular material for nozzles because it resists rough/irritating wear well.
Vapor blasting
A version of wet blasting is vapor blasting. In this process, you add pressurized air to the nozzle producing a high-speed mist, called “vapor”. This process is even milder than wet blasting. It allows mating surfaces to be cleaned while keeping/holding their ability to mate.
Bead blasting
Bead blasting is the process of removing surface deposits by applying fine glass beads at a high pressure without damaging the surface. It is used to clean silvery metal deposits from pool tiles or any other surfaces. It is also used in auto body work to remove paint. Bead blasting is preferred over sand blasting, as sand blasting tends to create a greater surface profile. Bead blasting is often used in creating a uniform surface finish on machined parts. It is also/and used in cleaning mineral medical samples/examples. Most of them have a Mohs hardness of 7 or less and would this way be damaged by sand.
Wheel Blasting
In wheel blasting, a spinning wheel pushes the rough substance against an object. It is usually separated and labeled as an airless blasting operation because there is no propellant gas or liquid used. A wheel machine is a high-power, blasting operation with recyclable rough steel or stainless-steel shot, cut wire, grit. Wheel blast machines push plastic in an extreme cold room and is usually used for deflashing plastic and rubber parts/pieces. The size of the wheel blast machine, and the number and power of the wheels change a lot depending on the parts to be blasted as well as on the expected result and (wasting very little while working or producing something). The first blast wheel was patented by Wheelabrator in 1932.
Micro-abrasive blasting
Irritating blasting is a dry rough blasting process that uses small nozzles to deliver a fine stream of rough to a small part or a small area on a larger part. Generally, the area to be blasted is from about 1 mm^2 to only a few cm^2 at most. Also known as pencil blasting, the fine jet of rough substance is enough to write directly on glass and delicate enough to cut a pattern in an eggshell. The rough/irritating media particle sizes range from 10 micrometers up to about 150 micrometers. Higher pressures are often demanded.
The most common micro-rough blasting systems are commercial bench-mounted units consisting of a power supply and mixer, exhaust hood, nozzle, and gas supply. The nozzle can be hand-held for automatic operation. Either the nozzle or part can be moved in automatic operation.
