Sandblasting

Sandblasting is the surface treatment process in which a jet of abrasive particles — silica sand, aluminium oxide, metal shot, glass beads — propelled at high pressure (1–8 bar) from a nozzle impacts the surface of the part, removing oxides, rust, paint, slag and contaminants, or creating a uniform texture and controlled roughness. The final effect depends on the type of abrasive, its grit size, the pressure and the working distance.

Abrasive blasting uses angular grit to strip and roughen; bead blasting uses glass or stainless-steel beads to achieve a uniform matte finish without affecting dimensional tolerances. Applications range from surface preparation before painting or coating, to the aesthetic finishing of aluminium and stainless-steel components, to the cleaning of cast and moulded parts. Enclosed blast cabinets protect the operator and recover abrasive for reuse; direct-pressure systems guarantee high abrasive flow rates for large-scale operations.