Equipment for blasting uses a type of material called steel abrasives. Shot and grit are the two varieties that are offered. While steel grit has irregularly shaped particles, steel shot has spherically formed particles. They can be applied to produce a certain texture on the surface of a workpiece, remove undesired elements (including rust, paint, and scale) off the surface of a workpiece, and/or harden the surface of a workpiece.
Below, we list the types and advantages of using steel abrasives as well as some typical applications for them.
Types of Steel Abrasives
There are many types of steel abrasives. Mainly these two are very essential:
- Steel Grit- Steel grit is available in a wide range of sizes and forms, allowing for the creation of numerous blast profiles. Steel grit is produced and has an angular shape. The removal of impurities from a product's surface and the creation of a blast profile for fresh coatings to adhere to are both made possible with steel grit. Steel grit is frequently used to remove mill scale and various levels of coatings from a product's surface. Common steel grit sizes range from steel grit G25 to steel grit G80. The actual blast media particles are smaller the higher the number. Large particles (lower G numbers) will produce a deeper blast profile on the product than smaller particles (smaller G numbers). Additionally, bigger particles will typically be better at removing thick layers of paint, whilst smaller particles will work best for removing thinner layers of surface contamination. Bigger particles like a G25 will leave deeper profiles between 4 and 6 mils when used with smaller, larger particles like a steel grit G80 (assuming all other blast equipment settings are the same).
- Steel Shot- Although it comes in a range of sizes, steel shot always has a spherical shape. It is a tough abrasive with a hardness of around 8.0 on the Mohs scale, which is comparable to the hardness of steel grit. Steel shot is employed in a number of procedures, but shot peening is its main application. By repeatedly impacting a surface with the steel shot, shot peening hardens the surface. The metal is compressed as a result of the repetitive hammering, increasing its strength. Shot peening is frequently used in the production of gear components, springs, camshafts, and turbine blades. Similar to steel grit, steel shot has a long lifespan before it needs to be replaced, often 150 to 200 cycles, depending on the application and provided you're utilizing the right blast media recovery equipment. Depending on the use, there are many sizes available for steel shots. The range of sizes includes standard sizes between steel shot S110 and s 330. In contrast to steel grit, the size of the steel shot increases with the number of shots (Steel Shot S330 is larger than Steel Shot S110). A larger shot will peen more heavily and remove thicker coatings.
Advantages of Steel Abrasives
There are many advantages to using steel abrasives for surface preparation.
- It is economical- Abrasive media is available at a relatively low price point, which makes abrasive blasting a cost-effective surface preparation method.
- It is eco-friendly- Abrasive media can be reused over and over, making abrasive blasting more eco-friendly compared to other surface preparation methods.
- It is efficient- Abrasive blasting removes unwanted materials from surfaces at faster speeds than traditional methods.
Steel shot abrasives are often used due to their:
- Effectiveness at removing surface contamination, which produces a completely smooth and clean surface
- Durability and recyclability, which allows it to be used and reused across multiple operations
- Versatility, which enables it to be utilized by wheel blast systems and air-powered blasting machines
Applications of Steel Abrasives
Steel abrasives are used in numerous industrial processes, including:
- Surface preparation- Steel abrasives are used to prepare materials for subsequent operations, such as painting or coating.
- Cleaning- Steel shot and grit are used to remove unwanted materials, such as rust and paint, from metal surfaces. Typical components that undergo this process include cylinder heads, motor blocks, and railways coaches.
- Stone cutting- Steel grit abrasive is integrated into multi-blade frames to cut large blocks of hard stone materials into smaller pieces.
- Shot peening- Steel shot is used to repeatedly strike the surface of the workpiece. The impact of the shot against the workpiece causes deformation and improves the durability of the surface.
Get Surface Preparation Solutions From Us
Steel abrasives are essential in a variety of industries, including mining, automotive, aerospace, and marine. To enhance the quality of components and products and make sure they are prepared for the following production process or application, they are employed in a range of manufacturing procedures, including surface preparation, surface cleaning, stone cutting, and shot peening.
Ask our experts for more information about these materials. We have the expertise to solve almost any inquiry you may have concerning blasting media and equipment because we are the oldest and largest manufacturer of surface preparation equipment in India.
Additionally, we can supply you with steel grit and shot if you're looking for a dependable supplier. To meet the various needs of our customers, we provide a wide range of abrasives. For information on particular products and pricing, request a quote.
