Aluminum Oxide Abrasives

There are many different types of abrasives in use today with blasting. Different types of materials are used on different surfaces to create different effects. The best aluminum oxide abrasives are going to vary from project to project based on exactly what it is you want to achieve. Aluminum Oxide can be used for a range of purposes. Not only will it help to remove paint, but it can also be used for applications such as floor coatings, abrasive blasting, and grinding.

What is Aluminum Oxide?

Aluminum oxide is one of the most popular abrasives used when it’s necessary to perform some kind of finishing or etching. While there are other abrasives which can be used to do the job, aluminum oxide is the preferred material because it possesses certain properties which make it superior to all others. For instance, its versatility and strength are well known and appreciated by professional people, and its highly aggressive nature makes it an excellent choice for blasting materials such as wood, metals, glass, and many other surfaces. Aluminum oxide is also one of the least expensive agents which can be used in sand blasting, and that’s another reason for its strong appeal to industry professionals.

What grit is aluminum oxide abrasive?

A typical grit level used for achieving aggressive removal of unwanted substances like rust, or for accomplishing a clean etching, would be 60-grit. This is an ideal grit for etching a surface without causing collateral damage, since the aluminium oxide grit will cut through the surface very quickly, thereby causing far less damage than most other abrasives. Aluminum oxide is one of the hardest of all sand blasting materials, and that allows it to penetrate and cut into even the strongest surfaces. It commonly contains twice as many particles per pound as any other blasting material, yet it is very lightweight when compared to metallic blasting agents.

What is aluminum oxide used for?

Aluminum oxide is frequently used in a great many applications, for instance cleaning valves, pistons, engine heads, and turbine blades on aircraft. It’s also used to etch intricate lettering into monuments and to accomplish various other kinds of inscriptions. It is a popular choice when parts need to be prepared and cleaned for plating, welding, and metalizing. Another whole category of usage for aluminum oxide is preparing surfaces to be painted, and it is also used whenever sand blasting and polishing a surface is necessary. Suffice to say that it lives up to its recognized property of versatility by being used in a great many ways and on a great many different surfaces.

When to use Aluminum Oxide?

Whether your application involves a wet or a dry process, using aluminum oxide will still be a great choice. It is the best choice for usage on the removal of rust, scale, peeling paint, and surface contaminants. Professionals have found aluminum oxide to be the most effective agent for use in abrasive blasting, refractory coating, lapping, non-skid surfaces, decorative etchings and inscriptions, and for providing a surface which requires superior adhesion of paint or other coatings. It’s fair to say that no matter what kind of application you have for the removal of unwanted surface material, the preparation of a surface for another coating, or for etching into a hard surface, aluminum oxide should be your go-to blasting agent.

The Benefits of Aluminum Oxide?

Generally when you think about a blasting agent, you consider how well it removes unwanted material from a surface. But some blasting agents actually contain relatively high amounts of iron, and can deposit small amounts of that iron on a surface being treated – and that can lead to rust formation. Aluminum oxide contains very little iron, and does not have this problem, so it does not promote the formation of rust. Another tremendous benefit of using aluminum oxide is that it can be recycled, and that makes it extremely cost effective. Compared to other blasting agents, that reduces the cost considerably and makes it one of the least expensive materials, while also being one of the most effective. Because it is such a hard material, aluminum oxide imparts much less surface damage than other agents do, and that makes it ideal for etching and inscription applications, where the surface must be preserved. The unique properties of aluminum oxide make it the best choice for almost all blasting and etching applications. N.T. Ruddock offers two types of Aluminum Oxide abrasives, Aluminum Oxide (White) and Aluminum Oxide (Brown). Below are some types of blasting media for Aluminum Oxide you will want to consider using for different jobs.  

Technical Specifications