In this article Dana-Ridge is going to focus on another popular media used in our wetblast machines and is one of the fastest cutting abrasives around. As opposed to glass bead for example, aluminium oxide,or alumina (Al2O3) , is angular/cubic in shape and rather than a scrubbing action on the surface, it has a more of a cutting process. This opens up a whole new set of applications for your Dana-Ridge wetblast unit.
Aluminium oxide is a compound of aluminium and oxygen and is used in many abrasive applications including grinding discs and sandpaper. In fact, it can be found in countless other applications but we will only consider it in the context of wet blasting here.
Being rated at nine on the Mohs hardness scale means it is very hard and tough and when it does break apart, it breaks into new angular shapes to expose a new cutting surface.
Combined with the heat and dust-suppression qualities of the wetblaster, the media becomes an especially safe and cost-effective way to clean components.
Dana-Ridge has seen rooms fill with aluminium oxide dust from dry units when the filters have failed. The Dana-Ridge wetblast unit has eliminated these hazardous situations while providing a superior finish, much to the delight of the customer.
The water in the Dana-Ridge wetblast process means even longer life from the media giving even more benefits.
The results are a matte surface finish and with a range of grades available, you can achieve a nice keyed surface for paint adhesion through to micro-finishes on precision-dimensioned parts.