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Abrasive Blast Finishing

Choosing the right blast media for desired finish

There are so many options when it comes to choosing the right blast media for a particular finishing application. Productivity and cost must be the first consideration when making this decision. Although, sometimes a specific finish can only be accomplished with a media that may be on the expensive side.


Abrasive blast media falls into three categories

  • Natural minerals
  • Man made/manufactured
  • By-products from some other process

Other factors that must be considered

  • Particle size
  • Particle shape
  • Material density
  • Material hardness
  • Friablility – how easy does it shatter?

The following is a very comprehensive list of the abrasives I can provide. I think that you will quickly see how difficult it is to make this choice. Do some research, and remember, you can always ask Rick.

Products Image Mesh/Grit Size Range Grain Shape Color Mohs Hardness Typical Application Metal Removal
3M© Colorquartz 3M Color Quartz Abrasive 12 & 40 mesh Sub-angular Various 6.5-7 Decorative floors, pools, anti-slip N/A
Alumina (Calcined) Alumina Calcined Abrasive 1-50 micron Hexagonal, platy White 9 Polishing, lapping, refractories, ceramics, fire retardants/smoke suppressant Slight
Alumina Zirconia Alumina Zirconia Abrasive 4-1200 Grit Hexagonal crystals Gray 9 Abrasive blasting, casting & foundry applications Medium to Heavy
Aluminum Oxide-Brown (fused alumina, corundum) Aluminum Oxide-Brown Abrasive 4-1200 Grit Hexagonal crystals Brownish Gray 9 Cleaning, anti-slip Medium to Heavy
Aluminum Oxide-White (fused alumina, corundum) Aluminum Oxide-White Abrasive 4-1200 Grit Hexagonal crystals White 9 Polishing, lapping, abrasive micro blasting, anti-slip Medium
Anthracite Anthracite Abrasive N/A Hexagonal crystals Blackish Brown 8 Water Filtration N/A
Armex® Sodablast Armex Sodablast Abrasive 60 - 180 Mesh Crystalline White 2.5 Cleaning, paint removal, degreasing, mold removal None
Bauxite Beads Bauxite Beads Abrasive 12/18 - 60/100 Mesh Spherical Beads Black 6.5 Abrasive blasting Medium to Heavy
Boron Carbide Boron Carbide Abrasive 4 - 1200 Grit Blocky, sharp edges Black 9.3 Grinding wheels, cutting tools, scratch & wear resistant tools Medium to Heavy
Cab-O-Sil Fumed Silica Cab-O-Sil Fumed Silica Sub Micron Fine Powder White 7 Increases Bulk Density for adhesives, sealants, coatings, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, composites, elastomers, foods, and inks N/A
Calcium Carbonate Calcium Carbonate Abrasive 4-200 Mesh Fine Powder White 3 Paint extender, filler for plastics, adhesives, sealants, additive to cement None
Ceramic Beads Ceramic Beads Abrasive 60-325 Mesh Spherical Beads White 9 Abrasive cleaning, peening and finishing Slight
Cerium Oxide Cerium Oxide Abrasive Micron Sizes Fine Powder Pale yellow-white 2.5 Glass polishing, filler for ceramics Slight
Coal Slag Coal Slag Abrasive 12/30, 12/40, 20/40, 30/60, 40/80 Mesh Hexagonal crystals Black 8 Abrasive blasting, turf filler Medium to Heavy
Colored Glass Colored Glass Abrasive 1/2" - 1/32" Blocky, sharp edges Various 5 Decorative conrete, terrazzo applications N/A
Corn Cob Grit Corn Cob Grit 10/14 - 80 & Finer Mesh Blocky Brownish Yellow 4.5 Abrasive cleaning & finishing, polishing, slight deburring, absorbent media None
Crushed Glass Crushed Glass Abrasive 14/18 - 170 & Finer Mesh Angular, sharp edges Mixed colors, clear, crystal clear 5 Abrasive cleaning, anti-slip, filtration Medium
Diamond Compound Diamond Compound Abrasive Micron Sizes Liquid Various 10 Lapping, mold, tool & die polishing Medium
Diamond Powder Diamond Powder Abrasive Micron Sizes Fine Powder Various 10 Lapping, mold, tool & die polishing Medium
Diamond Slurry Diamond Slurry Abrasive Micron Sizes Liquid Various 10 Lapping, mold, tool & die polishing Medium
Dry Ice Dry Ice Abrasive 1/8" Pellet White < 2 Gentle cleaning None
Emery Emery Abrasive Micron Sizes Fine Powder Dark Gray to Black 8.5 Abrasive polishing Medium
Feldspar Feldspar Abrasive 325 Mesh and Finer Fine Powder Light Gray 6 Filler for ceramics and glazing materials N/A
Filter Sand Filter Sand Abrasive 1/2" to 325 Mesh Sub-round Light Brown to Light Beige 7 Liquid filtration N/A
Fluidized Bed Media Fluidized Bed Media Abrasive 40-200 Mesh Sub-round Light Brown to Light Beige 9 Heat Treating or Vulcanization N/A
Garnet Garnet Abrasive 8 - 1200 Grit Angular to Sub Angular Red 6.5 Abrasive cleaning, liquid filtration Medium to Heavy
Glass Beads Glass Beads Abrasive 20/30 - 270 & Finer Mesh Sub-round to Round Clear 5.5 Abrasive cleaning, peening and finishing None to Slight
Gravel Gravel Abrasive 1/2"- 1/8" Sub-round Light Brown to Light Beige 7 Liquid filtration, concrete manufacturing, decorative landscaping N/A
Hollow Glass Spheres Hollow Glass Spheres Abrasives 10-300 microns Spherical Gray 5 Lightweight additive for resin systems (cement, sealants, grout) N/A
Military Specification Materials Military Spec. Material Specification Dependent N/A N/A N/A Blasting and other uses N/A
Nepheline Syenite Nepheline Syenite Abrasive 100 Mesh and Finer Fine Powder White 6 Used in production of ceramics and glazing materials N/A
Novaculite Novaculite Abrasive 100 Mesh and Finer Fine Powder White 7 Filler for resin systems, abrasive wet cleaning Slight
Optical Polishing Powders Optical Polishing Powders Micron Sizes Fine Powder Pale yellow-white to light tan 2.5 Glass polishing, filler for ceramics Slight
Plastic Grit Plastic Grit abrasive 10 - 200 Mesh Sub-round to Angular Various 3.5 Light to heavy abrasive cleaning and finishing None
Porous Glass Spheres Porous Glass Spheres Abrasive 16 mm to 100 micron Spherical Off White 5 Lightweight filler and insulator for resin systems (cement, rubber, plastic) N/A
Pumice Pumice Abrasive 1/4" -Micron Sizes Fine Powder Off White 5.5 Additive for cement, polishing Slight
Quartz Quartz Abrasive 12/20 - 325 & Finer Mesh Angular, sharp edges Opaque 7 Abrasive cleaning, concrete filler N/A
Silica Flour Silica Flour Abrasive 140 Mesh to Micron Sizes Fine Powder Light Beige 7 Filler for resin systems N/A
Silica Sand Silica Sand Abrasive 4 to 270 Mesh Sub-round Beige to Light Beige 7 Liquid filtration, manufacturing of glass and anti-slip application N/A
Silicon Carbide Silicon Carbide Abrasive 8 - 1200 Grit Angular, sharp edges Black 9.5 Lapping, cutting tools, anti-slip Medium to Heavy
Slurries Slurry Abrasives 240 - 1200 Grit Liquid Various 10 Lapping, mold, tool & die polishing Slight
Starblast® Starblast Abrasive 30/60 - 70/140 Mesh Angular, sharp edges Dark Brown, Maroon 6.5 Abrasive cleaning, anti-slip, filtration Medium
Steel Grit Steel Grit Abrasive 10 - 120 Grit Angular, very sharp edges Grayish Black 40 - 60 HRC Cleaning, coatings Heavy
Steel Shot Steel Shot Abrasive 780 - 70 SAE Sizes Round Black 40 - 51 HRC Cleaning, peening and finishing Slight to Medium
Vinyl Chips Vinyl Chips Abrasive 1/16" - 1" Asymmetrical Various < 2 Decorative flooring, wall systems N/A
Walnut Shell Walnut Shell Abrasive 6 - 325 Mesh Angular, multi-faceted Dark Brown 3.5 Cleaning, paint removal, degreasing, mold removal None
Zircon Zircon Abrasive 120 Mesh Average Sub round Light Brown 7.5 Foundry, investment castings, refractory, ceramics N/A