The Ordering of the Cutting Force of Sandblasting Abrasives

The ordering of the cutting force of sandblasting abrasives depends mainly on factors such as their hardness, particle shape, density and toughness. The following is the ranking and detailed description of common abrasives according to their cutting force from strong to weak:

### Sandblast abrasives sorted by cutting force (from strongest to weakest)

1. Boron carbide (B?C)

- Highest hardness (Mohs hardness about 9.5), sharp particles, extremely strong cutting force, but high cost, mostly used in precision machining or special areas.

2. Silicon carbide (SiC, emery)

- Hardness close to boron carbide (Mohs 9.2), sharp particles, high cutting efficiency, widely used in metal descaling, stone carving and so on.

3. Aluminum oxide (corundum, Al?O?)

- High hardness (Mohs 9.0), angular particles, strong cutting power and durability, commonly used in metal surface treatment.

4. **Steel sand (cast steel sand)

- Medium hardness (HRC 40-60), but high density (7.8g/cm3), strong impact force, suitable for removing thick oxide layer or burr.

5. Ceramic sand (zirconium sand, zirconium silicate)

- Higher hardness (7.5-8.5 on Mohs scale), good abrasion resistance, moderate cutting force, commonly used in aviation or precision parts.

6. **Quartz sand (SiO?)

- High hardness (Mohs 7.0), but brittle, easy to crush, cutting power decreases rapidly with use, now less used due to the risk of silicosis.

7. Steel shot

- Spherical particles, cutting force is weaker than steel grit, mainly used for surface peening (shot peening) rather than cutting.

8. Glass beads

- Lower hardness (Mohs 5.5-6.0), weak cutting power, suitable for surface cleaning, polishing or deburring.

9. **Organic abrasives (walnut grit, corn cob)

- Lowest hardness, weak cutting force, used for cleaning of soft materials (e.g. plastics, electronic components).

Key Influencing Factors

1. Hardness: the higher the hardness, the stronger the cutting power (e.g. boron carbide > silicon carbide > alumina).

2. Particle shape: angular particles (e.g., aluminum oxide) are more powerful than spherical particles (e.g., steel shot).

3. Density: Higher density abrasives (e.g. steel grit) have a higher kinetic energy of impact and are suitable for removing thick layers of impurities.

4. Toughness: Abrasives with poor toughness (e.g. quartz sand) are easily broken and have low cutting power durability.

Application Recommendations

- Efficient Cutting: Choose Silicon Carbide or Aluminum Oxide to balance cost and performance.

- Heavy Industrial Cleaning: Steel grit or steel shot, suitable for removing thick rust or burrs.

- Precision Polishing: Glass beads or ceramic grit to avoid damaging the substrate.

- Environmental protection and safety: preferably replace quartz sand with aluminum oxide or ceramic sand.

Choose the right abrasive according to the specific needs (efficiency, cost, safety), and mix it if necessary to balance the effect.