1. Select abrasive materials according to the material of the workpiece



Workpieces of different materials have different requirements for sandblasting abrasive materials. For example:



- Ferrous metal workpieces: Abrasive materials with higher hardness and good wear resistance, such as brown corundum, white corundum, and steel sand, are suitable. They can effectively remove the surface oxide layer without causing excessive wear.



- Stainless steel workpieces: It is recommended to use abrasive materials such as chrome corundum or silicon carbide to reduce surface contamination and discoloration.



- Non-ferrous metals (such as aluminum, copper, etc.): It is advisable to use abrasive materials with lower hardness and finer particles, such as glass beads and plastic sand, to avoid surface damage.



2. Select abrasive materials according to surface treatment requirements

　　Different processing purposes require different characteristics of abrasive materials:

　　- Removing burrs or cleaning the surface of the workpiece: abrasive materials with high hardness and strong impact force, such as copper mine sand and steel sand, can be selected;



- Achieving a specific surface roughness: abrasive materials of different particle sizes can be selected according to the required Ra value;



- Removing old coatings or paint: It is recommended to use brown corundum, garnet, and other materials;



- Precision part surface treatment: It is advisable to use glass beads or ceramic sand with uniform particle size and smooth surface.



3. Consider the cost and environmental factors of abrasive materials



When selecting abrasive materials, it is also necessary to comprehensively consider their price, service life, and environmental impact:



- Single-use abrasive materials (such as natural sand, garnet) are suitable for low-frequency, low-cost sandblasting operations;



- Recycled abrasive materials (such as steel sand, brown corundum) have a higher initial investment, but a longer service life, making them more economical in the long run;



- With increasingly strict environmental protection requirements, some areas have restricted the use of natural sand containing a large amount of silicon dust, and it is recommended to use low-dust or dust-free abrasive materials such as ceramic sand and resin sand.



4. Selection of Abrasive Particle Size



The particle size of the abrasive directly affects the sandblasting efficiency and surface quality. Generally speaking, the larger the particle size, the stronger the impact force, the higher the cleaning efficiency, but it may lead to excessive surface roughness; conversely, if the particle size is too small, it may affect the cleaning efficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the appropriate particle size range of abrasive materials according to the material of the workpiece, the processing requirements, and the parameters of the sandblasting equipment.



Conclusion



In summary, the selection of abrasive materials in the sandblasting process is a comprehensive consideration of multiple factors. It is not only necessary to consider the material of the workpiece and the processing requirements, but also to take into account the economic and environmental factors. A reasonable selection of abrasive materials can not only improve work efficiency but also effectively ensure the quality of processing, bringing higher economic benefits and market competitiveness to the enterprise.