Sandblasting

Définition of "abrasive blasting" :

The operation of cleaning or preparing a surface by forcibly propelling a stream of abrasive material against it. Usually explained as the use of a material against another material to make it smoother. It is also the appropriate term for what is known as sandblasting or sand carving.

== Surface cleanliness and roughness ==

Abrasive-blasted surfaces are characterised by two kinds of information that are both essential but fundamentally different, although sometimes mistaken for each other: cleanliness and roughness.
Cleanliness reflects the degree of presence of undesirable residual contaminants on the surface, whereas roughness refers to the micrometric shape of the surface, called the surface profile.

== Main abrasive Blasting Operations ==

- Air Blasting : air blasting is a method of throwing abrasive that solves many problems encountered with wheel machines, especially with regard to the size and shape of the parts to be blasted. The large variety of applications accounts for the diversity of equipment in use, ranging from mobile low-powered equipment to large blasting booths including work stations for surface preparation on very large welded assemblies such as grain silos or rail cars.
- Wheel Blasting machine : Wheel machines are used for high-power, high-efficiency blasting operations with recyclable abrasive (steel). The size of the machine, number and power of the wheels vary considerably. They depend on the parts to be blasted as well as on the expected result and efficiency. Wheel machine installations are usually made up of 6 elements, each of which has an essential function.

== Safety about abrasive blasting ==

Cleaning operations using abrasive blasting present some risks for workers' health and safety, especially in air blasting applications. Although abrasives used in blasting booths are not hazardous in themselves (steel shot and grit, cast iron, corundum, etc), their use can present serious danger to operators, such as burns due to projections (with skin or eye lesions), falls due to walking on round shots scattered on the ground, exposure to hazardous dusts, creation of an explosive atmosphere, exposure to detrimental noise. Both blasting booths and blaster's equipment have to be adapted to these dangers.
The necessary equipment for the blaster is: - a helmet with clean air supply, - special safety gloves, - a protective apron and overalls, - ear protection.
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