Blast Media Characteristics Comparison

Material	Mesh Size	Shape	Density lbs/ft3	Mohs	Friability	Init. Cost	No. of Cycles	Per use Cost	Source	Typical Applications
Sil. Sand•	6-270		100	5.0-6.0	high	low	1	med.	nat.	Outdoor blast cleaning
Min. Slag	8-80		85-112	7.0-7.5	high	med.	1-2	med.	b-p	Outdoor blast cleaning
Garnet	8-300		130-145	7.0	med.	med.	2-2.5	med.	nat.	Cleaning, finishing, deburring, etching
Steel Grit	10-325		230	8.0	low	high	200+	med.	mfd.	Removing heavy scale
Steel Shot	8-200		280	8.0	–	high	200+	low	mfd.	Cleaning, peening
Al. Oxide	12-325		125	9.0	med.	high	6-8	med.	mfd.	Cleaning, finishing, deburring, etching
Silicon Carbide	12-325		110	9.5	med.	high	5-6	med.	mfd.	Surface preparation on extremely hard substrates
Glass Bead	10-400		85-90	5.5-6.0	med.	med.	8-10	low	mfd.	Cleaning, finishing
Plastic	12-80		45-60	3.0-4.0	low/med.	high	8-10	med.	mfd.	Paint stripping, deflashing, cleaning
Bicarbonate of Soda	60-170		60	2.5	high	high	1	high	mfd.	Cleaning, paint removal
Wheat Starch	12-80		45	2.0	med.	med.	12-15	high	mfd.	Paint, adhesive removal; composites
XLCorn Hybrid Polymer	16-60		45	3.0	low	high	14-17	med.	mfd.	Composite paint removal, adhesive deflash
Corn Cob	8-40		35-45	2.0-4.5	med.	low	4-5	low	b-p	Removing paint from delicate surfaces

=Angular = Spherical nat.=Natural b-p=By-product mfd.=Manufactured

•Consult OSHA regulations before using silica sand as a blast abrasive.