#airblasting#Aluminum oxide#corundum
Why use Aluminum Oxide for shot blasting and surface preparation?
Aluminum oxide has long been a popular abrasive choice for sandblast and surface preparation when it is desired to avoid contamination and corrosion of parts.
However, did you know that this medium has very few advantages and is an expensive solution compared to stainless steel abrasives?
If you have a shot blasting chamber with recovery capacity, the Stelux CG grit option is the right choice.
Introduction
Shot blasting is a critical process in surface preparation, ensuring materials are clean, smooth, and ready for further treatment. Among the various abrasives used, aluminum oxide has been a popular choice due to its hardness and effectiveness. However, recent advancements have highlighted the superior performance and cost-efficiency of stainless steel abrasives. This article delves into the benefits of using stainless steel abrasives for shot blasting, including reduced consumption rates, lower dust generation, minimal equipment wear, and substantial long-term cost savings. By understanding these advantages, industries can make informed decisions to optimize their surface preparation processes.
Here are 7 reasons why you should change:
Durability
it is true that Aluminum Oxide can be reused. However, its consumption is about 20 to 50 x greater than stainless steel grit. Stelux CG Stainless steel grit can therefore be reused dozens, even hundreds of times. Typically, we obtain a consumption of 0.1 to 0.2 lb/sq.ft. vs 3 to 4 lb/sq.ft. for Al2O3 in a typical airblast operation.
Dust
Due to the increased durability, the working environment is greatly improved and the visibility just as much. This has a very big influence on the productivity and the efficiency of your production team. Better visibility also reduces re-blasting and improves the cleanliness of the parts.
Health & Safety
The reduction of dust in the environment has also a direct impact on health and safety improvements due to reduced dust generation, leading to better air quality in the workplace.
Wear
Less dust also means less wear and tear on tips, hoses and seals. Replacing these items becomes less frequent. Dust is very abrasive and harsh on equipment. No dust, less maintenance. In addition, with less dust, you also increase the life of your filters and reduce wear on the ducts and dust collector.
Cost of disposal
Product characteristics
Total cost of use
With much lower consumption, negligible costs of disposal and increased productivity, the total savings can reach 80%! Typically, it costs between $ 2.50 to $ 5/sq.ft for stainless steel shot blasting versus costs of $15 to $25/sq.ft. for aluminum oxide.
Cost Differentiation Analysis
When comparing stainless steel abrasives to aluminum oxide for shot blasting operations, stainless steel abrasives, despite their higher initial cost, offer significant long-term savings. Their lower consumption rate and high reusability (up to 1000 cycles) drastically reduce operational costs. Additionally, they produce less dust, reduce equipment wear, and incur lower disposal costs. Over time, these factors contribute to an overall cost saving of up to 80%, making stainless steel abrasives a more economical and efficient choice for surface preparation.
| Parameter | Stainless Steel Abrasives | Aluminum Oxide Abrasives |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Consumption Rate | Lower | Higher |
| Reusability | High (up to 1000 cycles) | Low (up to 10 cycles) |
| Dust Generation | Low | High |
| Equipment Wear | Low | High |
| Disposal Costs | Lower | Higher |
| Overall Cost Savings | Up to 80% over time | – |
Conclusion
Finally, to improve your surface preparation processes on parts sensitive to corrosion, use stainless steel abrasives!
Written by:
Iann Bouchard, Eng
Winoa / W Abrasives
iann.bouchard@winoa.com – Tel. CAN : 1-438-989-8554 – Tel. EUR: 06 76 33 55 13
