Protecting steel and other metals against corrosion is important for their continued use in the construction and industrial sectors. Careful cleaning and surface preparation are vital steps worth taking to see the four benefits of sandblasting before applying surface coating.
The New Era of Sandblasting
Although “sandblasting” has taken on several implications over the years, it remains the technique of choice in the industry for surface treatments. Many workers still employ the time-honored sandblasting method, but they do it in compliance with state health and safety guidelines.
Cleaning industrial equipment and structures regularly with “abrasive blasting” is useful for numerous tasks, such as rust removal, etching, burnishing, and, for this post, smoothing out surfaces for coating.
Why Blasting Is Important
Temperature and humidity regulation is a vital part of surface preparation. When it comes to coating adhesion, time, temperature, and humidity are all key factors. Cleaning a surface like metal before applying a coating can leave it vulnerable to additional oxidation and corrosion.
The coating should begin as soon as feasible once surface preparation is complete. Keeping the surface dry requires keeping the temperature low enough. Condensation of moisture on the surface of materials is also more likely when humidity levels are high.
Surface coatings used after abrasive blasting protect the underlying material and significantly minimize the frequency with which the material must go through the time-consuming and expensive process of cleaning and recoating.
The 4 Benefits of Sandblasting Before Coating
The new and improved method of abrasive blasting is better because the media used are inert, meaning they won’t cause any chemical reactions when used to clean various materials. Using chemical cleansers as an alternative raises concerns about a possible reaction and harm to the underlying substance. It may take some time after coating the surface for these effects to become apparent. Stripping and recoating the surface is an additional step that raises the total cost.
1) Safety
Compared to chemical cleaning approaches, scrubbing surfaces with abrasive media poses far less threat to human health. Fine dust and sand particles formed during sandblasting can constitute a health concern, although operators take precautions to mitigate this risk.
2) Surface Profiling
The surface’s profile, or roughness level, varies according to each client’s needs. Surface profile customization after chemical stripping is impossible, so it must be completed beforehand.
3) Efficient & Effective
Blasting saves both time and money. Modern technology also provides portable alternatives to chemical and manual cleaning for hard-to-reach areas.
Cleaning a surface using sandblasting methods is quicker and more effective since the particles travel into the surface’s crevices.
4) Environmentally-Friendly
If you compare blasting to chemical cleaning, blasting has far less environmental impact. The blasting process produces no greenhouse emissions since the abrasive media are nontoxic, biodegradable, and naturally occurring.
The four benefits of sandblasting before applying surface coating prove how critical the process is to ensure the final product is picture-perfect. Professional Finishing is ready to provide expert metal sandblasting services throughout the Bay Area. Whether it’s for commercial or industrial purposes, we’re here to smooth your rough surfaces.