Abrasives & Accessories Description: Abrasive blasting is the process of using compressed air or water to direct a high velocity stream of an abrasive material to clean an object or surface, remove burrs, apply a texture, or prepare a surface for the application of paint or other type of coating. This process typically produces a large amount of dust from the abrasive, and results in such as removing contaminants or previous coatings like paint, rust, and residue, abrading the substrate, altering the shape of the material, smoothing or roughening the surface, or finishing a surface.The decision to use a certain type of abrasive material can depend on factors such as cost, job specifications, environment, and worker health. Commonly used abrasive materials include silica sand (crystalline), coal slag, garnet sand, nickel slag, copper slag, glass (beads or crushed), steel shot, steel grit, and specular hematite (iron ore). Unfortunately, if the process is not completely isolated from the operator, the dust from abrasive blasting can cause a substantial health risk. Respirable dust from silica sand and other abrasive materials can be inhaled, causing long-term damage to lungs and the respiratory system. Where abrasive blasting is used to remove lead-based paint on the steel infrastructure of bridges, it can generate particles of lead that pose a risk to the nervous system. In addition to potential health hazards, abrasive blasting can pose safety risks as well. Cleaning steel while working from scaffolding introduc... Read More...

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