What is Vapour Abrasive Blasting?

Vapour abrasive blasting equipment is the latest innovation in abrasive blasting. Vapour abrasive blasting is similar to dry blasting, except that the blast media is moistened prior to impacting the surface and creates up to 92% less dust. It removes coatings, contaminants, corrosion and residues from hard surfaces. Wet blasters can operate effectively at lower PSI, removing coatings without damaging the underlying substrate. Vapour abrasive blasting is a preferred method for blasting antique, fragile surfaces and soft surfaces (including wood). In addition, the presence of lubricating water reduces heat due to friction that can warp metal surfaces.

The main advantage of vapour abrasive blasting over dry blasting is that it reduces dust, permitting operators to work in an extensive range of environments with minimal setup and cleanup costs. Offering a cleaner, more consistent finished, ready to coat surface, with no embedded particles or clinging dust. Dust from dry blasting presents not only an inhalation health hazard, but severely limits visibility. Dry blasting operations must be separate from normal operations, wet blasters can work in close proximity with other workers with minimal precautionary measures.

Testing conducted by a third-party agency shows that vapour abrasive blasting suppresses up to 92% of dust compared to dry blasting. Because dust is minimized, less containment may be required and media clean-up time can be reduced. As it uses less water than slurry or other water-based technologies, pools of water aren’t left behind, and there is less need to worry about toxic runoff. The end result is a cleaner, better contained process.

BLASTING MATERIALS

Media & abrasives

Media refers to materials that do not create a surface profile upon impact. These include both inorganic and organic materials. Abrasives include any blast material that creates a surface profile (or anchor pattern) upon impact. Surface coatings adhere more strongly to profiled surfaces.

When abrasive blasting impacts a hard surface, the particle often breaks or shatters, propelling finer particles into the air as dust, and to dust already present in the dry media. This impact can also cause dry sparks charged with static electricity.

When wet abrasive impacts a surface, fine particles are sequestered in water droplets. The additional water weighs the particles down, preventing dust.

The presence of water also transfers more mass on the particle at impact. As the water droplet disperses, the hydrostatic force blasts away surface coating, leaving a feathered edge around the perimeter for seamless re-coatings.

Pictured (left to right): Glass beads, plastic beads, crushed walnut, garnet, crushed glass, staurolite, coal slag.