Choosing the Right Abrasive Media for Sandblasting

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Choosing the Right Abrasive Media for Sandblasting
www.quantumblast.com.au
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Dry abrasive blasting can be hazardous and when
it was initially developed, many people developed
respiratory problems from breathing in the dust
or other particulates. Wet abrasive blasting or
dustless blasting does have the same hazardous
risks as dry blasting. Hearing Loss Since
these machines propel particles at high speeds,
they need powerful motors to keep them running.
Air and water compression units can be
excessively loud, and prolonged exposure without
hearing protection can lead to semi or permanent
hearing loss.
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Respiratory Illness dry blasting creates a lot
of dust. If employees breathe in this dust, it
could cause serious lung damage. In particular,
silica sand can cause a disease known as
silicosis, lung cancer, and breathing problems.
Coal slag, garnet sand, copper slag, nickel slag,
and glass may also cause lung damage similar to
the effects of silica sand. Job sites that use
metal particles may create toxic dust that could
lead to worse health conditions or death. These
materials can contain trace amounts of toxic
metals like arsenic, cadmium, or beryllium that
become airborne and can be inhaled. Skin
Irritation The dust created by abrasive blasting
can get into clothing quickly and easily. As
workers move around, the grit or sand can rub
against their skin, creating rashes and other
painful conditions.
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Eye Damage Some particles used in abrasive
blasting are incredibly tiny and can cause damage
to the eye. Suitable eye protection must be used
in both dry and wet abrasive blasting. Skin
Abrasion Blast suits and blast gloves must be
worn to protect the body from flying sandblasting
particles and accidents. Lead Poisoning Over
time, workers can develop heavy metal poisoning
if these the surface being blasted contains lead
coatings and the particles end up in the
bloodstream, either through breathing or injury.
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If you are in doubt between choosing a softer vs
a harder abrasive media, start with the softer
media first. You can always add a harsher
abrasive later, but it is significantly more work
to undo the work of an abrasive that was too hard
and risk damage to the underlying substrate. We
hope the above article is helpful in explaining
the different forms of abrasive media and helps
you to choose the right abrasive media for
sandblasting.
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Contact Us
1300 822 569
sales_at_quantumblast.com.au
www.quantumblast.com.au