Selecting Appropriate Abrasive Materials for Effective Cleaning
- adrianbutler2065
- Apr 10
- 2 min read
Industrial surface treatment: It all boils down to choosing the right abrasive material. Your selection is determined by a combination of factors like surface type, level of contamination, finish requirement, and type of blasting system used. Sand blasting media and stainless steel shot are two top picks with distinct benefits. Below is the difference to enable you to make a better choice.
1. Sand Blasting Media: Useful for a Variety of Applications
What is Sand Blasting?
Sand blasting is a surface cleaning process where abrasive media is forcibly propelled against a surface using compressed air. This process removes rust, scale, paint, and other surface contaminants, preparing the surface for coatings or finishes.
Types of Sand Blasting Media:
At Itaichu, you’ll find a wide range of sand blasting abrasives tailored for different applications:
Aluminium Oxide: Famous for their hardness and aggressive cutting speed, they're well-suited to hard surfaces like steel and abrasive cleaning applications.
Glass Beads: Ideal to produce a satin or matte effect without harming the substrate. It's commonly utilized for stainless steel parts.
Garnet: A green and environmentally friendly product that provides potent cutting power in a safe method for sensitive areas.
Plastic Media & Walnut Shells: Ideal for fine surfaces where there is a necessity to maintain the base material in place.
Applications:
From steel structure rust removal to cleaning sensitive molds and dies, sand blasting media is versatile across automotive, aerospace, and marine industries.
2. Stainless Steel Shot: High Durability and Consistency
What is Stainless Steel Shot?
Stainless steel shot is made up of spherical stainless steel grains, specifically designed for use in shot blasting machines. In contrast to angular abrasives, the spherical shape provides peening action—perfect for cleaning, deburring, and surface strengthening.
Benefits of Stainless Steel Shot:
Reusable and Durable: Its strength enables repeated reuse cycles, providing cost savings for high-volume applications.
Low Dust Generation: Keeps the work environment cleaner and minimizes health risks.
Corrosion Resistance: Perfect for blasting stainless steel or non-ferrous metals where ferrous contamination is unacceptable.
Consistent Finish: The consistent grain size provides an even surface texture—essential for industries such as automotive and food processing.
Where It Excels:
Stainless steel shot is commonly applied in foundries, die-casting, and metal fabrication facilities where uniform results and high-speed cleaning are critical.
Conclusion
Selecting the optimal abrasive media will make all the difference in order to attain productive and efficient cleaning. If flexibility and numerous range of finishing outcomes are needed, sand blasting media such as aluminium oxide or garnet might suit you best. Yet, in case you must have durability, reproducible outcomes, and rust-free finishes, stainless steel shot is unmatched when it comes to performance.
Discover Itaichu wide range of abrasive products customized for any cleaning and surface treatment requirement—so you can achieve the perfect finish, every time.
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