Wet Blasting Cleaning
Vixen wet blasting leaves a clean and superior finish
Wet Blasting, also known as vapor blasting is an ideal surface preparation and cleaning process, that involves a mixture of water, a media, and an optional additive such as a degrease or cleaning agent if specifically needed.
Wet blasting cleans as part of the process. In some applications cleaning is the only requirement, but in others you can skip multiple step processes and consolidate them in to one process step so that you clean, and surface prepare your components in one step.
Wet blasting is a highly controllable process, due to the water acting as a carrier, meaning full control and monitoring can be achieved. Because of this, it also means that our process can utilise a large range of media allowing for use of very fine or very coarse media depending on requirements, materials being cleaned or surface prepared.
Wet Blasting Applications for Cleaning
Wet blasting for the cleaning of components and or surface finishing is used across a wide range of industries, and can consolidate multi step processes in some cases. Some of the most common cleaning applications are:
Automotive Industry: Wet blasting is widely used in the automotive industry for cleaning and preparing various components, such as engine parts, brake components, and aluminium wheels. It is effective in removing paint, rust, oil and grease and other contaminants without causing damage to sensitive surfaces. It is also widely used in the remanufacture of parts.
Aerospace Industry: Wet blasting is used in the aerospace industry for cleaning and refurbishing aircraft components. The method is suitable for applications where precision and care are required. There are applications in OEM’s such as foundry operations, degreasing and cleaning of engine components after manufacture and many cleaning activities within the MRO side of the industry for cleaning as part of NDT crack detection, for example or wheel and brake shops.
Aluminium Extrusion: Wet blasting is used in aluminium extrusion for cleaning the extrusion dies after use. Its is preferred to many other methods due to the flow of the process which enables cleaning of complex shapes reducing time these dies spend within the correction shop, and extending the life of the die.
Marine Industry: In the marine sector, wet blasting is employed to clean ship components and prepare surfaces for painting or coating.
Restoration and Refurbishment: Wet blasting is commonly used in the restoration of vintage machinery, sculptures, and architectural elements. It allows for the gentle removal of dirt, corrosion, and old coatings.
Electronic and Semiconductor Manufacturing: Wet blasting can be utilized for precision cleaning of delicate electronic components, removing residues and contaminants without causing damage or making substrate dimensional changes.
Medical Equipment: In the medical field, wet blasting is employed for cleaning and preparing medical instruments and equipment, ensuring a high level of cleanliness and sterilization.
Each manufacturer will have individual requirements and understanding on process objectives. To see how we could work together on a process and solutions contact us to arrange sample processing on your components.
Benefits of Wet blasting for Cleaning
Our wet blasting process offers several inherent benefits that add to it being the prefeed surface processing method for many industries and applications. Some of the key process benefits are listed below.
Highly controllable Surface Treatment: Wet blasting is a highly controllable process compared to other methods such as dry blasting. It can effectively remove contaminants, coatings, Burrs and rust without causing damage to delicate automotive components, ensuring the integrity of the surfaces.
No Dust Emission: The addition of water in wet blasting suppresses dust formation, resulting in a cleaner and safer working environment. This is crucial in the automotive industry where cleanliness is essential for maintaining high-quality standards, and ensuring the health and safety of workers. This also means no static build up or hazardous environments that can occur with some materials.
Environmentally Friendly: The use of water in wet blasting minimizes the environmental impact compared to dry blasting methods. It reduces airborne dust and facilitates easier containment and disposal of waste, contributing to environmental sustainability.
Versatility in Abrasive Media: Wet blasting can utilize a variety of abrasive media, such as glass beads, aluminium oxide, Ceramics, or others, and due to the high level of control the process can also work with a wider range of media sizes from large coarse media to very fine if the requirement calls for it. This versatility allows manufacturers to choose the most suitable media for specific applications, providing flexibility in surface preparation.
Improved Surface Finish: Wet blasting not only cleans surfaces but also leaves them with a smoother finish. This is particularly beneficial for applications where a high-quality appearance is crucial, such as in the production of automotive parts with aesthetic requirements.
Uniform Surface Finish: Achieves a consistent and uniform surface finish across the entire implant, contributing to improved aesthetics and performance.
Minimized Heat Generation: Wet blasting generates less heat compared to some methods. This is advantageous for components that are sensitive to heat, preventing potential damage or distortion during the process.
Reduced Media Consumption: Wet blasting uses abrasive media more efficiently compared to other methods. The water cushions the impact and creates the ability to control and filter to a very fine level, allowing the media to be reused for a longer duration before replacement and adds consistency and repeatability to process resulting in potential cost savings on other methods and a more accurate level of control over your process.
Enhanced Worker Safety: The reduction of dust and the generally lower abrasive impact contribute to a safer working environment for operators. Wet blasting helps mitigate health risks associated with exposure to airborne contaminants, improving overall workplace safety.
In summary, wet blasting provides a combination of precision, environmental responsibility, cost-effectiveness, and safety benefits, making it a superior method and attractive option for various industry applications
Process Driven Solutions for your Cleaning applications
Our aim is to work with you and supply you the process and solution(s) to meet your requirements.
Our equipment is designed to best utilise our process to meet your requirements. By utilising our years of experience and process knowledge, and combining it with our automated technology, we can provide a complete solution that delivers control and consistency to give you the perfect finish every time.
Contact us to discuss your requirements, and how we can work with you. Or have a look at our solution pages for more information.
We also design and manufacture washing equipment which in many cases complements our wet blasting solutions.
In many applications we have implemented solutions that incorporate both blasting and washing in a one step process which can remove handling steps and increase efficiency.