Sand blasting has quickly become established as an effective method of cleaning surfaces, etching glass, and sharpening metal tools. Although many types of blasting equipment and equipment are used today, Tilghman’s method used silica sand. We now know that the sand used in this original process is deadly.

Sand blasting and silicosis

According to the American Lung Association, "silicosis affects the lungs by damaging the lining of the alveoli, and as this begins, it causes scars and, in some situations, a condition known as progressive massive fibrosis Significant scarring and stiffening of the lungs, making breathing more difficult Blasters and its surroundings are at risk of silicosis, including those working in the blast cleaning industry, including the blaster, contractor, project manager and office staff can work nearby for a longer exposure time.

To prevent silicosis, many European countries have banned sand blasting of silicic acid - some of them since 1947. The experts at these sites have been looking for replacement abrasives for their sandblasting equipment. They experimented and started using products such as garnet, coal and other slags (dangerous by-products of various smelting processes), steel shot and steel shot. Despite this transition from sand to alternative abrasives, many have used the term "sandblasting" to describe the similar process of "abrasive blasting".

Most modern blasting media machines hurl abrasive media through a nozzle using compressed air to a substrate. Some profiling and grinding tools mechanically drive the abrasive through rotating wheels or other devices that eject the abrasive to the surface. While blower units are used more frequently, wheel blowers are suitable for specific applications.

Sand blasting and abrasive blasting are used in today's domestic industry language. The terms usually mean the same thing: removal of the topmost layer of a substrate, coating, contamination or corrosion by airborne abrasives. The biggest difference between loops and loops is the support used. Since most modern blast media companies use alternative (non-abrasive) abrasives to clean and profile their substrates, blasting is the most accurate term. Sand is sometimes still used as a projection agent, but is rare because of the documented health risks of silica (present in the sand) when used as a projection medium. In the rare cases where a blaster uses sand, abrasive and sand blasting describe exactly the work done. Otherwise, if a material such as sponge media, garnet or coal slag is used, blasting is the appropriate term.

Sponge cleaning is a term commonly used for blasting with Sponge-Media , composite particles containing abrasives. OSHA refers to the "sponge medium" as one of the few less toxic abrasives in its blasting material information sheet. And it is the only less toxic abrasive that is stated that can produce a profile on steel that is essential to the long-term coating performance of most coatings.