Crushed Glass vs. Glass Bead Media for Sandblasting
Sandblasting, also known as abrasive blasting, is a mechanical process used to prepare metal parts’ surfaces. It involves the high-intensity propelling of abrasive media, such as sand, aluminum oxide, steel grit and glass beads, against a surface to clean, smooth or strip coatings off it. Sandblasting uses compressed air and water for a variety of industrial surface preparation applications. Depending on your project specifications, sandblasting may require different types of material.
Is Crushed Glass the Same as Glass Beads?
Crushed glass is a type of abrasive material that is typically used to clean surfaces by removing rust, paint layers, or heavy coatings. As the name suggests, crushed glass is manufactured from glass and characterized by an angular or subangular shape. Some of the most common applications of crushed glass abrasives include:
- Rust removal
- Paint and coatings stripping
- Graffiti removal
- Automotive paint removal
- Parts cleaning
- Equipment maintenance
- Commercial restoration
What Are Glass Beads?
Glass beads are another type of abrasive that is also manufactured from glass. They are made of all rounded particles making them an ideal choice for sandblasting aluminum, wood, and other softer materials. Glass beads are often used for:
- Cleaning
- Finishing
- Deburring
- Peening
Crushed Glass vs. Glass Beads: How Do They Differ?
Understanding the similarities between crushed glass and glass beads is important. However, knowing key crushed glass and glass bead differences also helps you decide which material fits your needs best. Key differences between these two abrasive materials include:
- Shape and size: Crushed glass typically has an irregular shape and sharp edges, which gives it more abrasive properties. Depending on the intended application, it may come in a variety of sizes. Glass beads, on the other hand, are often spherical in shape and uniform in size. These characteristics make glass beads ideal for gentle abrasive applications.
- Abrasiveness: Crushed glass’s irregular shape and sharp edges give it more abrasion, making it effective in removing heavy layers of rust, paint and coatings. This level of abrasiveness also helps crushed glass to create a deeper profile. Meanwhile, glass beads are less abrasive due to their round shape and smooth texture. They make a more consistent and shallower, peened profile.
- Surface finish: Crushed glass provides a rougher finish, making it suitable for applications requiring better adhesion for paint, coatings and sealants. Glass beads offer a smoother peened finish that is ideal for projects requiring a more polished or satin finish, such as surface preparation for anodizing and cosmetic applications.
- Dust generation: Crushed glass usually creates more dust during the blasting process, which may pose safety and respiratory health concerns. Glass beads produce less dust, making them a better choice for indoor environments.
- Durability: Crushed glass breaks down faster and is less reclaimable than glass beads. It’s unsuitable for multiple uses, whereas glass beads often have a longer life span and better reusability.
Choosing the Right Abrasive for Your Project
Finding the right abrasive for your blasting project helps you achieve your desired results. To help you pick the right abrasive, consider these factors:
- Surface type
- Desired finish
- Budget
- Availability
- Environmental and safety considerations
Superoxalloy: A Better Alternative for Sandblasting
Crushed glass and glass beads are traditional abrasives that deliver excellent results in various sandblasting applications. However, some projects require a different approach that calls for better abrasive materials.
10X Engineered Materials’ innovative superoxalloys are a great alternative to crushed glass and glass beads. They offer plenty of benefits, such as:
- Consistency: They are manufactured with a consistent particle shape and size, which makes it easier to achieve uniform blasting results.
- Durability and longevity: Superoxalloys are engineered to be more durable than traditional abrasives. Our products can withstand repeated use without impacting effectiveness and quality, and they’re more cost-efficient to use than other abrasives.
- Enhanced surface finish: Our superoxalloys can easily achieve superior surface finishes, which are ideal for many surface preparation jobs and demanding applications with various aesthetic requirements.
- Reduced dust generation: Our abrasives produce very low dust, helping you achieve a safer work environment with improved visibility and a cleaner production area.
- Versatility: Superoxalloys are suitable for a wide range of applications, including cleaning, etching, and finishing. With one product, you can achieve the work of both crushed glass and glass beads.
- Environmental and health considerations: Our superoxalloys are the only biosoluble blasting abrasive on the market. They are not classifiable as carcinogenic for humans, according to the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Use Top-Quality Sandblasting Abrasives From the Experts
10X Engineered Materials is a top provider of premium quality abrasives. Our selection of science-based engineered abrasives offers customers the technology to achieve superior results in various metal-forming projects and industrial applications. Explore our innovative products or contact us for more information.