Choosing to use plastic blast media provides several advantages in the removal of paint, surface irregularities, corrosion, and the removal of coating material on a wide range of surfaces. Most commonly, plastic media is used in blasting on aircraft parts, vehicle parts, and other equipment and surfaces that are easily damaged by other, more abrasive types of blast media. It can be used on most aircraft components and parts like engines and wheels, for example, while other materials should not be used.
Why Use Plastic?
Plastic blast media provides a uniform, consistent particle size that is highly effective at removing paint, coating, powder coating, and surface materials from soft metals such as aluminum. The plastic blast media blend selected, combined with the velocity of the air pushing the blast media onto the surface, creates a customized process of removing surface paint, smoothing out surface irregularities, and sometimes can even be used for shaping surfaces.
Plastic is recommended for this type of application as it is not as aggressive as metal or glass types of blasting materials. It is effective on even thin pieces of aluminum that would bend or dent with harder types of media.
The Practical Side of Plastic
In addition to effective removal of surface materials, plastic blast media is also environmentally friendly compared to either chemical paint removal or other types of media. Plastic media is made from recycled and reused plastics, reducing the cost for maintenance and repair departments. Plastic blasting material can also be collected and reused, which also adds to the cost savings offered by this blast media option.
