What Is Silicon Carbide Abrasive?
Silicon carbide is a ceramic material containing hard, abrasive grains that break down under pressure. This breaking down process makes SiC items cut faster and sharper and generate finer scratch patterns on a wide range of surfaces. Silicon carbide is considered one of the hardest materials — besides diamonds — because another substance cannot scratch it.
When it comes to blasting media, silicon carbide is widely popular due to its low cost and long-lasting properties. Abrasive blasting is the process of using specialized machinery to project media at high speeds across a hard surface. Often, abrasive blasting is used to power away rust, prepare a surface for painting or remove old finishes on a product’s surface.
In addition to prepping surfaces for high-performance coatings, silicon carbide abrasive blasting media applications include:
- High-performance etching and frosting
- Micro-blasting on metal and glass
- Etching and carving of glass and hard metals
- Metal, stone and glass engraving
What Are the Benefits?
Silicon carbide is used as an abrasive due to its hardness. What sets the ceramic material apart from other abrasives is its high-temperature strength, high thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion. First, manufacturers mold silicon carbide grit into an angular grain shape. Silicon carbide media then begins the process of breaking down constantly to yield incredibly sharp edges.
Benefits of silicon carbide abrasive follow:
- Silica-free design
- Shorter blast times compared to other media
- Minimal contaminants and magnetic content
- Rapid cutting speed
- Composition lighter than metallic with a denser blast stream
- Low cost
- Light to very heavy etching on a variety of surfaces
- Availability in a wide range of grit sizes and mesh
- Biodegradable and reusable material
Does Silicone Carbide Abrasive Work Better in One Industry vs. Another?
Silicon carbide abrasives can be used in automobiles, electric systems, power electronic devices and LEDs, quantum physics, graphene production, steel production, carborundum printmaking, jewelry, thin filament pyrometry, astronomy and more. They work best in industries and manufacturing sectors that require reliable metal cleaning, finishing and preparation. Industries that benefit from silicon carbide abrasive are:
- Antique stove refinishing
- Lighting for blasting applications
- Truck bed preparation
- Outdoor lighting pole blast finishing and etching
- Jewelry polishing
- Industrial spray booths
- Hydraulic fluid reservoir blasting
- Deburring and polishing
- Air makeup units for paint booths
Make Finishing Systems Your Source for Abrasive Blasting Media
Whether silicon carbide or aluminum oxide blast media makes the most sense for your manufacturing operation, you can count on Finishing Systems for the right product at the right price. We’ve been in business since 1972 – we understand the unique aluminum oxide blasting media needs of companies across a broad spectrum of industries. We keep our expansive 30,000-square-foot York, PA distribution facility fully stocked with brown and white aluminum oxide abrasive materials, ensuring the fastest possible turnaround time for your order.
Finishing Systems is also the best place if you’re looking for where to buy aluminum oxide and silicon carbide blasting equipment and accessories. We carry a large inventory of air blast and wheel blast equipment that can offer a comprehensive turnkey solution for your business. You will also find essential sandblasting parts and accessories such as paint booth parts, respiratory equipment, and much more.
No matter what industry you’re looking to use silicon carbide abrasive for, Finishing Systems is here to help. Our knowledgeable team will help you choose the best mix of industrial metal finishing equipment, booth design and advanced process to help you gain a competitive edge.
Today, Finishing Systems is the metal industry’s top provider of finishing solutions and products for both large and small companies across the United States. We provide specialized services such as blasting and stripping, packaging, distribution and warehousing, parts manufacturing and assembly.
In the last decade and a half, Finishing Systems has expanded to offer environmental rooms, paint mixing rooms, paint and powder spray booths, washers, air makeup systems and ovens and more. Contact us today for more information about our silicon carbide abrasive and what it can do for your business.
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