Wet blasting is a highly effective process that combines compressed air, abrasive media and water in a slurry form to clean and prepare surfaces. The water creates a lubricating effect which increases the flow of particles across the surface being treated. Unlike dry blasting the liquid cushion also protects delicate surfaces whilst eliminating any potentially harmful dust. Wet blasting results in surfaces that are extremely clean and reactive, with no embedded secondary contamination from the media. To provide simultaneous cleaning and degreasing, the water can be heated and mild detergent added to ensure the effective removal of oily surface contamination.
The most advanced wet blasting systems use powerful software programs to combine and monitor precisely controlled flows of gas, air and solids, which are mixed then accelerated through focused blasting nozzles. Changing the fluid pressures, blast material, slurry composition, number and direction of attack of the blasting nozzles allows for a range of processing effects to be achieved, from harsh to soft. For example, the Vapormatt Leopard allows media concentration, process temperature, additive and blast pressures to be carefully controlled to provide an extremely consistent surface finish that can be reproduced time after time.
For consistent precision cleaning, the concentration of abrasive media in the sump is normally kept between 12-20%; this enables the perfect balance between abrasive action and particle flow to be maintained during processing. Lubricating the media eliminates static build-up and washes the process material continuously during processing to deliver the cleanest possible surface.
