Vapor blasting is also commonly referred to as wet blasting, liquid blasting, slurry blasting, water blasting, wet honing, wet sanding, or spray blasting. Wet blasting (or vapor blasting) is an industrial process for removing surface contaminants with abrasive jet media and pressurized water. This method of blasting differs from conventional abrasive blasting in that the media used in vapor blasting has higher pressures than those used in abrasive blasting. Also, because vapor blasting involves a water-based product, it usually involves a lower temperature than standard abrasive blasting.
There are four basic types of vapor blasting. The first is dry blasting, which utilizes pressurized air to blast fine particles into a material without creating a dust cloud. The second type of vapor blasting is wet jet finishing, in which a moist blasting solution is sprayed onto the surface to be finished. The third type of vapor blasting is the gas stream dry blasting process, in which a high-pressure jet of water vapor is used to finish a surface. The final type of vapor blasting is the direct inject finishing method, which injects fine particles into a material without spraying a mist into the air.
Although dry blasting methods produce much gentler results than water acts, they require more work to complete the project. The water acts must be turned off before the application of the dry abrasive blasting mixture because the spray can create too much pressure and cause cracks in materials. Also, too much pressure can cause the application to spray in the wrong direction, so extra care must be taken. These factors mean that vapor blasting is better suited for finishing surfaces that need to be lightly finished.
When dry blasting is used to remove rust from metal surfaces, a water-based solution is used to provide friction free, clean, and even rubbing that removes the rust without damaging the surface. This method of metal corrosion treatment is not suitable for all types of metal because of the risks of water intrusion. The use of water in this situation also removes any protective granules from the surface preparation layers. This leaves the surface with bare spots that are highly susceptible to corrosion. You can keep reading to find out how to vapor blast.
The most commonly encountered application of vapor blasting is on aluminum and stainless steel parts. Although it can be used on many other metals, its use on stainless steel parts is the most popular. This is because this metal does not experience as much wear and tear as other metals and because it does not corrode easily. Because of these qualities, this treatment option is perfect for the removal of dented, bubbling, and damaged areas.
The use of a water-based solution on stainless steel parts surfaces creates a hard coat that is highly resistant to corrosion. In addition, the use of a moist vapor blasting solution on aluminum parts surfaces leaves the metal with an ultra-smooth surface and inhibits rust formation because of the abrasive media used during the removal process. The benefits of vapor blasting treatments on alloys include a durable finish, little or no damage to the metal parts themselves, and prevention of water intrusion into the surface preparation layers. However, it is important to note that a properly designed and operated vapor blasting system should be the first step in any metal care and maintenance process. This post https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_blasting_(cleaning) will help you understand the topic even better.
