Structural Steel FAQ, Part 6 – Blast Media’s Influence on the Steel Surface Profile

The surface profile created by shot blasting depends entirely on the blast media and the way it is handled. The right media selection and equipment operating parameters are critical for the surface quality of structural steel components being prepared for paint coating. While mineral abrasives play a role for certain air blast applications, the lion’s share of industrial surface preparation is done in highly mechanized turbine blast machines utilizing steel media.

[caption id="attachment_4619" align="alignright" width="314"] Media being thrown by a blast turbine.[/caption]

Rosler Metal Finishing has decades of experience in the turbine blasting field. Through the years, we’ve used and evaluated all kinds of media and resulting roughness or lack thereof. This installment of our Structural Steel FAQ series will answer:

What influence does metallic blast media have on the surface profile

of structural steel?

Types and Shape

Steel shot and grit differ in shape, appearance, and profile results.

Shot has a spherical shape similar to small pellets and creates a relatively smooth, more homogeneous surface profile compared to steel grit.

Composed of angular, random shaped pieces, steel grit shards create a coarser surface profile and an overall increased surface area compared to steel shot.

As a general rule grit creates a rougher surface profile with more peaks and valleys than shot with the same grain size. Grit also enlarges the surface area more than shot.

For example:

• Rz (G 16) = about 5 mils (125 µ)
• Rz (S 390) = about 3.5 mils (88 µ)

Size of Media

Steel shot and grit are available in different sizes. Grain sizes vary from about 0.1 mm (4/1000”) up to nearly 3 mm (1/10”). The size ranges based on the type of media are as follows:

• Steel shot: S 70 – S 780 (0.1 –8 mm)
• Steel grit: G 120 – G 10 (0.1 –8 mm)

The most common media sizes for steel surface preparation are:

• Steel shot: S 230 ‐ S 390
• Steel grit: G 16 ‐ G 50

Bigger grain sizes create a deeper surface profile than smaller grain sizes as demonstrated by the following:

• Rz (S 230) = about 2.2 mills (55 µ)
• Rz (S 390) = about 3.5 mills (88 µ)

Media Hardness

Steel media comes in different grades of hardness as well. The harder the media, the deeper the surface profile created will be.

Steel grit ranges from 40 – 65 HRC, while steel shot ranges from 40 – 51 HRC.

Impact Velocity and Angle

Turbine blast machines can accelerate media to a speed of 150 – 350 feet per second. Higher impact speeds create deeper surface profiles.

The angle of impact also creates varying results as well. The biggest profile depth is achieved when the media hits the work piece surface at an angle of 90 degrees.

At an impact angle of 45 degrees, the media loses about 20 percent of its kinetic energy, thus creating less profile depth.

Media Selection

Selection of media type and size depends on two main factors: the initial surface condition (rust grade) and the type of coating to be applied.

For a steel surface with a rust grade of A or B and the application of a pre-fabrication primer such as a primed H-beam, steel shot S 230 or S 280 will be more than adequate.

A steel surface with rust grade C or D requiring a ultra high build coating (UHB) such as a storage tank, the most suitable blast media will be steel grit size G 16 or G 18.

The Rosler Way

Whatever your structural steel media needs are, you can count on Rosler Metal Finishing to help you find a better way. Contact us today to discuss your unique challenges.

The complete Structural Steel Series includes:

• Part 1 – Why Surface Preparation is Necessary.
• Part 2 – Methods of Surface Preparation.
• Part 3 – Evaluating Rust and Mill Scale Pre- and Post-Blast.
• Part 4 – Evaluating the Presence of Dust.
• Part 5 – Assessing Surface Profile.
• Part 6 – Blast Media’s Influence on Surface Profile.
• Part 7 – Comparing Commonly Used Blast Machines.
• Part 8 – Are All Turbines Created Equal?
• Part 9 – Removing Residual Blast Media and Dust.
• Part 10 – Blast Rooms for Touch-Ups.
• Part 11 – Preservation Lines.
• Part 12 – Material Handling Options.

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