Types of blasting in construction
There are essentially two types of blasting:
Abrasive blasting
- Sandblasting: Uses compressed air to propel abrasive particles, often sand, to clean or etch a surface.
- Bead blasting: Uses small glass beads to impact a surface, creating a matte, satin finish.
- Wheel blasting (or centrifugal blasting): Uses a wheel with centrifugal force to propel media like steel shot or grit, often used for heavy-duty applications.
- Wet blasting: Uses water mixed with an abrasive to reduce dust, cool the surface, and provide a finer finish.
- Vacuum blasting (or dustless blasting): Combines blasting with a vacuum to capture the abrasive and debris, which can also be recycled.
- Soda blasting: Uses sodium bicarbonate as a soft blasting agent, suitable for cleaning delicate surfaces.
- Micro-abrasive blasting: Uses a fine stream of abrasive through a very small nozzle, ideal for precision work on small parts.
Non-abrasive blasting
- Dry ice blasting: Uses high-pressure air to propel dry-ice pellets, which clean surfaces without leaving any residue.
- Hydro blasting (high-pressure water jetting): Uses high-pressure water to strip paint, chemicals, or buildup, rather than abrasives.
Abrasive blasting techniques differ by the propulsion method (e.g., air-powered sandblasting vs. centrifugal wheel blasting) and the media used (e.g., sand, glass beads, soda). Other types are categorised by their environment or properties, such as dry blasting, wet blasting, and vacuum blasting.
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