What Kind of Blast Media should I use?

Blast media is used for abrasive blasting in blast cabinets, blast rooms and mobile blast solutions. In this article, we will elaborate on the different blasting abrasives and their applications.

How does blast media work?

Steel shot blast abrasives

Blast media from Normfinish

During the blasting process, a stream of (abrasive) granules is blown under high pressure onto the workpiece. These grains treat the surface deep into the pores. The abrasive hits the surface/component for processing. It can be used for multiple applications such as cleaning, shot peening, paint removal, rust removal, roughening, matting, stripping and polishing.

What Kind of Blast Media should I use?

Which abrasive to use depends on many factors, among others:

  • Which blasting principle is used? Brown aluminium oxide cannot be used in, for example, a wheel blasting machine.
  • What material is blasted? Not every material can withstand certain types of abrasive.
  • What is the desired roughness (Ra, Rz or Rt-value)?
  • What is the desired speed?

In the following paragraph, you will find the different types of abrasives and how they are applied. If you would like to receive personal advice on which blast abrasive to use, you can always contact us.

What Kind of Blast Media should I use? What kinds of blast media are available and what are the differences?

  • Steel grit

    • Steel grit is an aggressive metallic abrasive (high carbon). It can be used in blasting machines, blasting rooms or mobile blasting solutions for sheet metal, profile and structural steel.
    • Application: clean blasting, rust removal, roughening and matting.
  • Steel shot HC

    • Steel shot HC (High Carbon) is a round metallic abrasive that is mainly used in blasting installations and blast halls.
    • Application: de-rusting and stripping of sheet metal, profile and structural steel.
  • Durablast / cut wire abrasive

    • Durablast is a metallic abrasive. Durablast is produced by cutting spring steel to the desired grain length, produced following DIN 8201. Durablast is mainly used in (larger) blasting installations and cabins.
    • Application: cleaning, roughing and shot peening (rounding).
  • Ferblast / chilled iron grit

    • High-quality angular cast iron grit produced according to ISO 11124-2, melted in drum furnace.
    • Application: Clean blasting, roughening, rust removal, stripping, filler for concrete production.
  • Stainless steel shot – Amacast

    • A high quality austenitic stainless steel shot, by applying a unique technological process there is less contamination.
    • Application: Clean blasting, roughening (especially in the food industry) and shot peening
  • White aluminium oxide

    • The (white) aluminium oxide of Normfinish is of 1A quality, with an iron-free quality.
    • Application: Wet and dry blasting, polishing
  • Glass bead blast media

    • Glass bead is a non-metallic abrasive. It is widely used to clean, polish, mattify stainless steel and aluminium and to reduce surface roughness.
    • Application: Cleaning, polishing, matting, Reducing surface roughness, shot-peening (according to specification) and suitable for blasting on stainless steel products
  • Brown Aluminum Oxide, premier quality

    • Brown Aluminum Oxide, premier quality is a non-metallic abrasive (95%). It is used in blasting booths, blasting halls and for mobile blasting. It is not suitable for abrasive blasting installations.
    • Application: clean blasting, roughening, removal of paint layers, blasting and use as anti-slip material.
  • Brown Aluminum Oxide, standard quality

    • The difference is in the alumina content (AlOx) – 88-89%. Brown aluminium oxide, second quality is a non-metallic abrasive. It is used in blasting booths, blasting halls and for mobile blasting. It is not suitable for blasting installations.
    • Application: cleaning, stripping, de-rusting and roughening.
  • Ceramic bead blast media

    • Ceramic bead blast media are a non-metallic abrasive. Ceramic beads are also used to give a nice finish to stainless steel surfaces.
    • Application: Ceramic beads for cleaning and shot peening of e.g. rotors, turbine blades, shapes and moulds.
  • Plastic blast media

    • Plastic abrasives are used for stripping surfaces. Due to the sharp-edged surfaces, a product can be carefully cleaned, stripped or stripped of sharp edges.
  • Walnut shells

    • Ground walnut shells (crushed nut shells), dried, degreased and classified.
    • Application: usage in which the surface structure must not be affected, e.g. in the following industries:
      • Petrochemical (cleaning of e.g. turbines)
      • Automotive and aviation
      • Electronics
      • Rubber and plastic industry (cleaning of e.g. moulds)

Advice from Normfinish

Would you like personal advice on What Kind of Blast Media should I use? Please contact one of our specialists. We will be happy to help you!