There are many blast media materials and blends that can be used for a wide variety of applications, but plastic blast media is one of the most universally usable, reusable and recyclable media available.
One of the most versatile plastic blast media is T-2 urea, it has a 54 – 62 Barcol hardness rating, which makes it a great choice in stripping and cleaning automobiles, trucks, trailers, and marine vessels. It is particularly good for removing paint, oil, wax, sealants, anti-corrosion coatings, hydrocarbon deposits, and adhesives.
Another particularly useful plastic blast media is T-3 melamine, which is much harder and more aggressive, with a Barcol hardness of 64-72. Due to its aggressiveness T-3 melamine is used as a fast blasting media, to quickly clean and strip the likes of stubborn primers, paints, hydrocarbon deposits, steel, iron, and engines. It makes for a great substitute for other harsh abrasives like glass beads.
If you’re looking for a plastic blast media that will be able to clean and strip but remain safe to use on more delicate materials then you should be looking to use T-5 acrylic, which has a Barcol hardness of 46 – 54. This is the abrasive of choice for stripping aircraft and aircraft components, as well as thin fiberglass, thin metal gauges, and more.
Not only is plastic blast media highly versatile, but it is reusable many times over, making it very cost-efficient and can be used against a great many materials. It is also far safer than traditional silica sand as it is completely silica free leaving you safe from silicosis.
