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Product Reference Tables

Comparison of the characteristics of abrasive materials


Material Mesh Size Shape Density (kg/m³) Mohs Hardness Friability Initial Cost # of Cycles Per Use Cost Source Typical Apps
Silica Sand* 6-270 ✖ Angular 801 - 1602 5.0-6.0 High Low 1 Medium Natural Outdoor blast cleaning
Mineral Slag 8-80 ✖ Angular 1362 - 1713 7.0-7.5 High Medium 1-2 Medium By-Product Outdoor blast cleaning
Garnet 8-300 ✖ Angular 2082 - 2323 7.0 Medium Low 2-2.5 Medium Natural Clean, Finish, Deburr, Etc.
Steel Grit 10-325 ✖ Angular 3684 8.0 Low High 200+ Medium Manufactured Removing heavy scale
Steel Shot 8-200 ● Spherical 4485 8.0 High 200+ Low Manufactured Cleaning, Peening
Aluminum Oxide 12-325 ✖ Angular 2002 9.0 Medium High 6-8 Medium Manufactured Clean, Finish, Deburr, Etc.
Silicon Carbide 12-325 ✖ Angular 1762 9.5 High High 5-6 Medium Manufactured Surface prep - hard substrates
Glass Bead 10-400 ● Spherical 1362 - 1442 5.5-6.0 Medium Medium 8-10 Low Manufactured Cleaning, Finishing
Plastic 12-80 ✖ Angular 721 - 961 3.0-4.0 Low/Medium Low 8-10 Medium Manufactured Paint strip, Deflash, Clean
Bicarbonate 60-170 ✖ Angular 961 2.5 High High 1 High Manufactured Cleaning, Paint removal
Wheat Starch 12-80 ✖ Angular 721 2.0 Medium Medium 12-15 High Manufactured Paint, Adhesive removal, Composites
XLComm Polymer Hybrid 16-60 ✖ Angular 721 3.0 Low High 14-17 Medium Manufactured Composite paint removal, Adhesive deflash
Corn Cob 8-40 ✖ Angular 561 - 721 2.0-4.5 Medium Low 4.5 Low By-Product Removing paint from delicate surfaces
*Note: ✖ = Angular; ● = Spherical | Nat. = Natural; B-P = By-Product; MFD. = Manufactured.
*Original density in pounds per cubic foot (lbs/ft³) has been converted to kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³) (1 lbs/ft³ ≈ 16.0185 kg/m³).
*Consult OSHA regulations before using silica sand as a blast abrasive.

Downloa​​​​​​​​​​​​​​d

Estimates of the air volume in the explosion system

Nozzle Orifice Size Volume of Air (CFM / m³/min) Plus Helmet (CFM / m³/min) Plus 50% (reserve) (CFM / m³/min) Min. Air Required (CFM / m³/min)
No. 4 1/4"
6.5mm
81
2.3
20
0.5
50
0.5
151 cfm
4.2 m³/min
No. 5 5/16"
8.0mm
137
3.9
20
0.5
79
2.2
236 cfm
6.6 m³/min
No. 6 3/8"
9.5mm
196
5.5
20
0.5
108
3.0
324 cfm
9.0 m³/min
No. 7 7/16"
11.0mm
254
7.2
20
0.5
137
3.9
411 cfm
11.6 m³/min
No. 8 1/2"
12.5mm
338
9.6
20
0.5
179
5.0
537 cfm
16.1 m³/min


Consumption of compressed air and abrasives


Nozzle Orifice Pressure at the Nozzle (Psi) Air (in CFM / m³/min) & Abrasive (in kg/hr) & HP Requirements
50 60 70 80 90 100 125 140
No. 2
(1/8")
11
0.31 m³/min
13
0.37 m³/min
15
0.42 m³/min
17
0.48 m³/min
18.5
0.52 m³/min
20
0.57 m³/min
25
0.71 m³/min
28
0.79 m³/min
Air (cfm)
0.67
0.019 m³/hr
0.77
0.022 m³/hr
0.88
0.025 m³/hr
1.01
0.029 m³/hr
1.12
0.032 m³/hr
1.23
0.035 m³/hr
1.52
0.043 m³/hr
1.70
0.048 m³/hr
Abrasive (cu.ft./hr)
67
30.4 kg/hr
77
34.9 kg/hr
88
39.9 kg/hr
101
45.8 kg/hr
112
50.8 kg/hr
123
55.8 kg/hr
152
68.9 kg/hr
170
77.1 kg/hr
and lbs/hr)
2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6.2 Compressor hp
No. 3
(3/16")
26
0.74 m³/min
30
0.85 m³/min
33
0.93 m³/min
38
1.07 m³/min
41
1.16 m³/min
45
1.27 m³/min
55
1.56 m³/min
62
1.76 m³/min
Air (cfm)
1.5
0.042 m³/hr
1.71
0.048 m³/hr
1.96
0.055 m³/hr
2.16
0.061 m³/hr
2.38
0.067 m³/hr
2.64
0.075 m³/hr
3.19
0.090 m³/hr
3.57
0.101 m³/hr
Abrasive (cu.ft./hr)
150
68.0 kg/hr
171
77.6 kg/hr
196
88.9 kg/hr
216
98.0 kg/hr
238
108.0 kg/hr
264
119.7 kg/hr
319
144.7 kg/hr
357
161.9 kg/hr
and lbs/hr)
6 7 8 9 10 12 13 Compressor hp
No. 4
(1/4")
47
1.33 m³/min
54
1.53 m³/min
61
1.73 m³/min
68
1.93 m³/min
74
2.09 m³/min
81
2.29 m³/min
98
2.77 m³/min
110
3.11 m³/min
Air (cfm)
2.68
0.076 m³/hr
3.12
0.088 m³/hr
3.54
0.100 m³/hr
4.08
0.116 m³/hr
4.48
0.127 m³/hr
4.94
0.140 m³/hr
6.08
0.172 m³/hr
6.81
0.193 m³/hr
Abrasive (cu.ft./hr)
268
121.6 kg/hr
312
141.5 kg/hr
354
160.6 kg/hr
408
185.1 kg/hr
448
203.2 kg/hr
494
224.1 kg/hr
608
275.8 kg/hr
681
308.9 kg/hr
and lbs/hr)
11 12 14 16 17 18 22 25 Compressor hp
No. 5
(5/16")
77
2.18 m³/min
89
2.52 m³/min
101
2.86 m³/min
113
3.20 m³/min
126
3.57 m³/min
137
3.88 m³/min
168
4.76 m³/min
188
5.32 m³/min
Air (cfm)
4.68
0.133 m³/hr
5.34
0.151 m³/hr
6.04
0.171 m³/hr
6.72
0.190 m³/hr
7.40
0.209 m³/hr
8.12
0.230 m³/hr
9.82
0.278 m³/hr
11.0
0.311 m³/hr
Abrasive (cu.ft./hr)
468
212.3 kg/hr
534
242.2 kg/hr
604
274.0 kg/hr
672
304.8 kg/hr
740
335.7 kg/hr
812
368.3 kg/hr
982
445.4 kg/hr
1100
499.0 kg/hr
and lbs/hr)
18 20 23 26 28 31 37 41 Compressor hp
No. 6
(3/8")
108
3.06 m³/min
126
3.57 m³/min
143
4.05 m³/min
161
4.56 m³/min
173
4.90 m³/min
196
5.55 m³/min
237
6.71 m³/min
265
7.50 m³/min
Air (cfm)
6.68
0.189 m³/hr
7.64
0.216 m³/hr
8.64
0.245 m³/hr
9.60
0.272 m³/hr
10.52
0.298 m³/hr
11.52
0.326 m³/hr
13.93
0.394 m³/hr
15.6
0.442 m³/hr
Abrasive (cu.ft./hr)
668
303.0 kg/hr
764
346.5 kg/hr
864
391.9 kg/hr
960
435.4 kg/hr
1052
477.2 kg/hr
1152
522.5 kg/hr
1393
631.8 kg/hr
1560
707.6 kg/hr
and lbs/hr)
24 28 32 36 39 44 52 58 Compressor hp
No. 7
(7/16")
146
4.13 m³/min
170
4.81 m³/min
194
5.49 m³/min
217
6.14 m³/min
240
6.79 m³/min
254
7.20 m³/min
314
8.89 m³/min
352
9.97 m³/min
Air (cfm)
8.96
0.254 m³/hr
10.32
0.292 m³/hr
11.76
0.333 m³/hr
13.12
0.372 m³/hr
14.48
0.410 m³/hr
15.84
0.449 m³/hr
19.31
0.547 m³/hr
21.63
0.612 m³/hr
Abrasive (cu.ft./hr)
896
406.4 kg/hr
1032
468.1 kg/hr
1176
533.4 kg/hr
1312
595.1 kg/hr
1448
656.8 kg/hr
1584
718.5 kg/hr
1931
875.9 kg/hr
2163
981.1 kg/hr
and lbs/hr)
33 38 44 49 54 57 69 77 Compressor hp
No. 8
(1/2")
195
5.52 m³/min
224
6.34 m³/min
252
7.14 m³/min
280
7.93 m³/min
309
8.75 m³/min
338
9.57 m³/min
409
11.58 m³/min
458
12.97 m³/min
Air (cfm)
11.60
0.328 m³/hr
13.36
0.378 m³/hr
15.12
0.428 m³/hr
16.80
0.476 m³/hr
18.56
0.525 m³/hr
20.24
0.573 m³/hr
24.59
0.696 m³/hr
27.54
0.780 m³/hr
Abrasive (cu.ft./hr)
1160
526.2 kg/hr
1336
606.0 kg/hr
1512
685.8 kg/hr
1680
762.0 kg/hr
1856
841.0 kg/hr
2024
918.1 kg/hr
2459
1115.4 kg/hr
2754
1249.2 kg/hr
and lbs/hr)
44 50 56 63 69 75 90 101 Compressor hp
*Consumption rates are based on abrasives that weigh 100 lbs per cubic foot (approx. 1602 kg/m³).
*CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) converted to m³/min (Cubic Meters per Minute).
*cu.ft./hr (Cubic Feet per Hour) converted to m³/hr (Cubic Meters per Hour).
*lbs/hr (Pounds per Hour) converted to kg/hr (Kilograms per Hour).


The influence of nozzle wear on air consumption


Nozzle No. Orifice Size Air Flow in CFM / (m³/min) Increased Air Consumption
No. 4 1/4" (6.5mm) 81 cfm / (2.29 m³/min)
No. 5 5/16" (8.0mm) 137 cfm / (3.88 m³/min) 69% more than No. 4
No. 6 3/8" (9.5mm) 196 cfm / (5.55 m³/min) 43% more than No. 5
No. 7 7/16" (11.0mm) 254 cfm / (7.20 m³/min) 29% more than No. 6
No. 8 1/2" (12.5mm) 338 cfm / (9.57 m³/min) 33% more than No. 7


Downloa​​​​​​​​​​​​​​d

Estimates of the air volume in the explosion system

Nozzle Orifice Size Volume of Air (CFM / m³/min) Plus Helmet (CFM / m³/min) Plus 50% (reserve) (CFM / m³/min) Min. Air Required (CFM / m³/min)
No. 4 1/4"
6.5mm
81
2.3
20
0.5
50
0.5
151 cfm
4.2 m³/min
No. 5 5/16"
8.0mm
137
3.9
20
0.5
79
2.2
236 cfm
6.6 m³/min
No. 6 3/8"
9.5mm
196
5.5
20
0.5
108
3.0
324 cfm
9.0 m³/min
No. 7 7/16"
11.0mm
254
7.2
20
0.5
137
3.9
411 cfm
11.6 m³/min
No. 8 1/2"
12.5mm
338
9.6
20
0.5
179
5.0
537 cfm
16.1 m³/min


Consumption of compressed air and abrasives


Nozzle Orifice Pressure at the Nozzle (Psi) Air (in CFM / m³/min) & Abrasive (in kg/hr) & HP Requirements
50 60 70 80 90 100 125 140
No. 2
(1/8")
11
0.31 m³/min
13
0.37 m³/min
15
0.42 m³/min
17
0.48 m³/min
18.5
0.52 m³/min
20
0.57 m³/min
25
0.71 m³/min
28
0.79 m³/min
Air (cfm)
0.67
0.019 m³/hr
0.77
0.022 m³/hr
0.88
0.025 m³/hr
1.01
0.029 m³/hr
1.12
0.032 m³/hr
1.23
0.035 m³/hr
1.52
0.043 m³/hr
1.70
0.048 m³/hr
Abrasive (cu.ft./hr)
67
30.4 kg/hr
77
34.9 kg/hr
88
39.9 kg/hr
101
45.8 kg/hr
112
50.8 kg/hr
123
55.8 kg/hr
152
68.9 kg/hr
170
77.1 kg/hr
and lbs/hr)
2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6.2 Compressor hp
No. 3
(3/16")
26
0.74 m³/min
30
0.85 m³/min
33
0.93 m³/min
38
1.07 m³/min
41
1.16 m³/min
45
1.27 m³/min
55
1.56 m³/min
62
1.76 m³/min
Air (cfm)
1.5
0.042 m³/hr
1.71
0.048 m³/hr
1.96
0.055 m³/hr
2.16
0.061 m³/hr
2.38
0.067 m³/hr
2.64
0.075 m³/hr
3.19
0.090 m³/hr
3.57
0.101 m³/hr
Abrasive (cu.ft./hr)
150
68.0 kg/hr
171
77.6 kg/hr
196
88.9 kg/hr
216
98.0 kg/hr
238
108.0 kg/hr
264
119.7 kg/hr
319
144.7 kg/hr
357
161.9 kg/hr
and lbs/hr)
6 7 8 9 10 12 13 Compressor hp
No. 4
(1/4")
47
1.33 m³/min
54
1.53 m³/min
61
1.73 m³/min
68
1.93 m³/min
74
2.09 m³/min
81
2.29 m³/min
98
2.77 m³/min
110
3.11 m³/min
Air (cfm)
2.68
0.076 m³/hr
3.12
0.088 m³/hr
3.54
0.100 m³/hr
4.08
0.116 m³/hr
4.48
0.127 m³/hr
4.94
0.140 m³/hr
6.08
0.172 m³/hr
6.81
0.193 m³/hr
Abrasive (cu.ft./hr)
268
121.6 kg/hr
312
141.5 kg/hr
354
160.6 kg/hr
408
185.1 kg/hr
448
203.2 kg/hr
494
224.1 kg/hr
608
275.8 kg/hr
681
308.9 kg/hr
and lbs/hr)
11 12 14 16 17 18 22 25 Compressor hp
No. 5
(5/16")
77
2.18 m³/min
89
2.52 m³/min
101
2.86 m³/min
113
3.20 m³/min
126
3.57 m³/min
137
3.88 m³/min
168
4.76 m³/min
188
5.32 m³/min
Air (cfm)
4.68
0.133 m³/hr
5.34
0.151 m³/hr
6.04
0.171 m³/hr
6.72
0.190 m³/hr
7.40
0.209 m³/hr
8.12
0.230 m³/hr
9.82
0.278 m³/hr
11.0
0.311 m³/hr
Abrasive (cu.ft./hr)
468
212.3 kg/hr
534
242.2 kg/hr
604
274.0 kg/hr
672
304.8 kg/hr
740
335.7 kg/hr
812
368.3 kg/hr
982
445.4 kg/hr
1100
499.0 kg/hr
and lbs/hr)
18 20 23 26 28 31 37 41 Compressor hp
No. 6
(3/8")
108
3.06 m³/min
126
3.57 m³/min
143
4.05 m³/min
161
4.56 m³/min
173
4.90 m³/min
196
5.55 m³/min
237
6.71 m³/min
265
7.50 m³/min
Air (cfm)
6.68
0.189 m³/hr
7.64
0.216 m³/hr
8.64
0.245 m³/hr
9.60
0.272 m³/hr
10.52
0.298 m³/hr
11.52
0.326 m³/hr
13.93
0.394 m³/hr
15.6
0.442 m³/hr
Abrasive (cu.ft./hr)
668
303.0 kg/hr
764
346.5 kg/hr
864
391.9 kg/hr
960
435.4 kg/hr
1052
477.2 kg/hr
1152
522.5 kg/hr
1393
631.8 kg/hr
1560
707.6 kg/hr
and lbs/hr)
24 28 32 36 39 44 52 58 Compressor hp
No. 7
(7/16")
146
4.13 m³/min
170
4.81 m³/min
194
5.49 m³/min
217
6.14 m³/min
240
6.79 m³/min
254
7.20 m³/min
314
8.89 m³/min
352
9.97 m³/min
Air (cfm)
8.96
0.254 m³/hr
10.32
0.292 m³/hr
11.76
0.333 m³/hr
13.12
0.372 m³/hr
14.48
0.410 m³/hr
15.84
0.449 m³/hr
19.31
0.547 m³/hr
21.63
0.612 m³/hr
Abrasive (cu.ft./hr)
896
406.4 kg/hr
1032
468.1 kg/hr
1176
533.4 kg/hr
1312
595.1 kg/hr
1448
656.8 kg/hr
1584
718.5 kg/hr
1931
875.9 kg/hr
2163
981.1 kg/hr
and lbs/hr)
33 38 44 49 54 57 69 77 Compressor hp
No. 8
(1/2")
195
5.52 m³/min
224
6.34 m³/min
252
7.14 m³/min
280
7.93 m³/min
309
8.75 m³/min
338
9.57 m³/min
409
11.58 m³/min
458
12.97 m³/min
Air (cfm)
11.60
0.328 m³/hr
13.36
0.378 m³/hr
15.12
0.428 m³/hr
16.80
0.476 m³/hr
18.56
0.525 m³/hr
20.24
0.573 m³/hr
24.59
0.696 m³/hr
27.54
0.780 m³/hr
Abrasive (cu.ft./hr)
1160
526.2 kg/hr
1336
606.0 kg/hr
1512
685.8 kg/hr
1680
762.0 kg/hr
1856
841.0 kg/hr
2024
918.1 kg/hr
2459
1115.4 kg/hr
2754
1249.2 kg/hr
and lbs/hr)
44 50 56 63 69 75 90 101 Compressor hp
*Consumption rates are based on abrasives that weigh 100 lbs per cubic foot (approx. 1602 kg/m³).
*CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) converted to m³/min (Cubic Meters per Minute).
*cu.ft./hr (Cubic Feet per Hour) converted to m³/hr (Cubic Meters per Hour).
*lbs/hr (Pounds per Hour) converted to kg/hr (Kilograms per Hour).


The influence of nozzle wear on air consumption


Nozzle No. Orifice Size Air Flow in CFM / (m³/min) Increased Air Consumption
No. 4 1/4" (6.5mm) 81 cfm / (2.29 m³/min)
No. 5 5/16" (8.0mm) 137 cfm / (3.88 m³/min) 69% more than No. 4
No. 6 3/8" (9.5mm) 196 cfm / (5.55 m³/min) 43% more than No. 5
No. 7 7/16" (11.0mm) 254 cfm / (7.20 m³/min) 29% more than No. 6
No. 8 1/2" (12.5mm) 338 cfm / (9.57 m³/min) 33% more than No. 7


Minimum diameter of the compressor air line

Nozzle No. Nozzle Orifice Size Minimum Air Line ID
No. 3 3/16" (5.0mm) 1" (25.0mm)
No. 4 1/4" (6.5mm) 1" (25.0mm)
No. 5 5/16" (8.0mm) 1.25" (32.0mm)
No. 6 3/8" (9.5mm) 1.50" (38.0mm)
No. 7 7/16" (11.0mm) 2" (50.0mm)
No. 8 1/2" (12.5mm) 2" (50.0mm)
No. 10 7/16" (64.0mm) 2.50" (64.0mm)
No. 12 3/4" (19.0mm) 3" (76.0mm)