Shot blasting is considered as one of the most cost-effective technologies for surface preparation before operations such as enameling, electroplating, glass coating, galvanizing, and rubberizing.
Shot blasting is used in numerous industries such as forging, ship-building, the aerospace industry, the steel industry, and so on. The prevailing reason why shot blasting is so popular is that it can provide uniformly fine and consistent, matt, or rough surfaces. To that end, there is a wide palette of Shot blasting machines, tools, and techniques that can be used to create the required surface.
When it comes to shot blasting and surface preparation, there are dozens of reasons why they are the perfect match. However, going through each of them and explaining in detail each of them can be a bit overwhelming. Instead, we will focus on the top five reasons why shot blasting is perfect for surface preparation.
- Shot blasting is known to increase the durability and longevity of the treated protective surfaces.
- Shot blasting is a process that will never eliminate any virgin metal. After the process is completed, the surface will be completely clean from dust, scales, and chemical deposits.
- There are no harsh chemicals used in the process of shot blasting.
- Shot blasting produces wider abrasive selection, excellent pattern accuracy, and very high production rates.
- Thanks to shot blasting, it is possible to detect defects and surface faults. Furthermore, it facilitates a very strong bond between the coating and the surface.
To better understand the reasons why shot blasting is so effective for surface preparation we also need to take a glimpse into the world of the different types of shots used.
Types of Shot Blasting
Even though shot blasting is mainly associated with blasting surfaces with steel pellets, there are also other types and materials often used in the process of shot blasting. Here we will describe some of the most common ones:
- Steel Grit
Shot blasting with steel grit is used when there is a need for aggressive cleaning. For example, eliminating contaminants from steel surfaces or other metals.
- Chilled Iron Grit
This too is a quite aggressive method that uses abrasive, angular material for eliminating paints and oxides from carbon steel and ferrous casting. Its biggest downside is that it is so aggressive that it cannot be used for soft metals such as aluminum.
- Steel Shots
This particular method relies on small steel balls (1 to 6 mm in diameter) that are fired at high speed on the surface that needs to be prepared. The bigger the diameter of the balls, the rougher the finish, whereas the smaller they are, the more polished the surface will be.
Conclusion
Now you know about shot blasting and why it is so popular in so many industries. It might not be the most glamorous industry, but it is one that is effective and will remain relevant in the future as many other industries rely on it.
