Blasting (abrasive blast cleaning)

Blasting is a subtractive, mechanical process for pretreating workpiece surfaces, in which suitable blasting or abrasive media – such as sand, glass beads, corundum, cast steel, steel shot or stainless steel shot – are propelled onto the surface under pressure. This removes contamination, scale, rust, paint, burrs, primers or coating residues, and can also produce a roughened surface where required. Depending on the abrasive used, different degrees of surface matting result, for example a satin-matte finish from glass bead blasting or a duller matte finish from corundum blasting. Common variants include sand blasting, glass bead blasting, cast/steel shot blasting and stainless steel shot blasting.