The Different Types of Glass Abrasive Media

Almost every type of parts finishing process involves using abrasive media in it to rub away anomalies and clean the parts being finished. Whether it is vibratory finishing, tumble finishing, sandblasting, or another technique, the type of media being used will go a long way to making the process efficient and cost-effective. Glass is a common type of abrasive media used in finishing processes and within this category are two main types of glass that might be best suited for your business processes, glass beads and crushed glass. 

Glass Beads

Glass beads are small orbs of glass that are best suited for finishing metal parts, as well as other pieces of glass. This is primarily because glass beads contain no free silica, which can damage certain kinds of metal parts. Additionally, glass beads tend to be among the most cost-effective kinds of abrasive media because they can be used many cycles over before needing to be replaced. A little goes a long way with glass beads and fewer pieces need to be used for each finishing cycle, increasing their cost-effectiveness. Glass beads are environmentally friendly and are ideal for cleaning and deburring processes and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit any operation.

Crushed Glass

Crushed glass is the second main type of glass abrasive media and varies from the former in its irregular shape and rougher edges. Crushed glass has certain benefits over beads, including being non-reactive, QPL and CARB approved, and providing a white post-blast finish. They are also more translucent, which increases visibility. Crushed glass is also environmentally friendly due to the fact that they are made completely from recycled glass. This property may also be cost-effective, as the media itself can be recycled after it is no longer usable.

Beyond even glass, there are many different types of abrasive media used in finishing processes that might be useful to you. At Mikro Industrial Finishing, we specialize in providing media and equipment to see that all of your industrial finishing needs are met and in the best way possible. To learn more about our abrasive media, equipment, and services, please call us any time at (860) 875-6357.