Three Different Applications of Media Blasting
Media blasting is a form of rough abrasive blasting where high-pressure sodium bicarbonate pellets are blown against a hard surface with compressed air. It has a less severe abrasive effect than solid sand blasting. A very early use was on the preservation of the Statue of Liberty during the 1980s. Today it is used mostly as a cleanup technique when media blasting debris has accidentally been dropped or blown onto a work area. This technique can also be used to remove paint from cement surfaces. To check out the best media blasting services, click here.
If you have seen the movie "Da Vinci Code", you may have recognized this media blasting process for graffiti removal. Here, technicians spray bottles full of water and dust it into the vicinity of graffiti vandals so that it sticks to the material. It penetrates deeply into the material and removes it from the surface. Water is non-abrasive and does not damage the surrounding material. However, water-based cleaners must be used after graffiti removal to prevent water damage. Check out this article for more details.
Aluminum oxide is often used in conjunction with other forms of media blasting to provide a tougher finish. These two combine to form an electrode posited finish. It is a highly effective barrier to corrosion because it contains oxygen. It penetrates deep into the metal and works very fast, while leaving bare metal surfaces without impurities.
If you want to avoid having to apply a clear coat of paint to corrode your existing finish, then you can use a compressed air compressor to blast a fine coating of aluminum oxide onto your corroded surfaces. The particles will be carried far away from your work area. They will not penetrate as far as traditional chemical stripping solutions, but they can still serve the purpose of improving the corrosion resistance of your existing finish. This is much faster than using a paint sprayer on a painted surface.
If you have cracks or chips in your sign lite material, then you might also want to consider media blasting. Using compressed air to blast debris away from sign lites is one of the most common applications for this technique. Compressed air helps remove debris from cracks or chips in materials, and it can also remove dirt and dust from exposed signs. When you have a sign that has cracks or chips in its base material, it is important to protect it from the weather. A sign like that gets dusty can quickly fade over time, but a damaged base material will not fare well. You can protect your sign lite from weather and dust by blasting away the excess dust and using compressed air to blast away any chips and cracks in it.
Sometimes, it might be necessary to remove rust stains or rust from a sign that is so heavily damaged that it is unusable. Media blasting can help remove rust stains from metals that can be damaged by the elements. You simply have to find a location where there is plenty of air flow and send in a medium sized chunk of media blasting at the location. The chunk of media will work like a liquid rocket onto the surface of whatever metal you are trying to remove rust from. It will eat away at the rust until it is stripped away, leaving your sign with virtually no rust at all.
For more information, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrasive_blasting.