General Abrasive Media Information
Recoverable blasting medias are used in industrial blasting. Indoor blasting systems require medias with extended life. Blast media, type, shape, size and hardness affect the process and materials theyʼre capable of blasting. Spherical medias are used for peening and produce smoother surface finishes. Angular medias chip at a parts surface; removing paint, rust and scale quicker, with better results than round medias.
Recoverable blasting media have two basic shapes. Round (spherical) and angular. The most common recoverable industrial blast media are:
Spherical Shaped Media:
- Ceramic Beads
- Glass Beads
- Stainless Shot
- Steel shot
Angular Shaped Media:
- Aluminum Oxide
- Ceramic Grit
- Crushed Glasses
- Garnet
- Plastic Beads
- Silicone Carbide
- Stainless Grit
- Steel Grit
- Walnut
General Abrasive Media Information:
- Spherical media are used for peening and produce smoother surface finishes
- Angular media chip at a parts surface removing paint, rust, and scale quicker than round media and produce a rougher surface finish and better anchor patterns for coating adhesions.
- Higher blast pressures reduce media life.
- Higher blast pressures increase production
- Dust collection keeps media clean
- Harder workpieces reduce media life
- The production rate of media, labor, and air compressor expense
Recoverable Media Life Cycle:
| Abrasive Media | Media Life Cycles | %Breakdown |
| Silica sand | 1 | 100 |
| Garnet Sand | 3-5 | 25 |
| Plastic Media | 7-9 | 13 |
| Glass Beads | 9-12 | 10 |
| Silicon Carbide | 9-10 | 11 |
| Aluminum Oxide | 10-12 | 9 |
| Ceramic Media | 70-90 | 1.2 |
| Steel shot, steel grit | 80-100 | 1 |
| Stainless shot, Stainless grit | 150-225 | 0.5 |
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