Abrasives are materials commonly used for a surface treatment process that entails grinding, scouring, cleaning surfaces and removal of unwanted materials on a surface. The choice of the abrasive material highly depends on the intensity of the sandblasting being done. Abrasive materials can either be natural or synthetic, and the latter is considered a lot more due to its high level of accuracy and precision. Abrasives have unique characteristics that you should matter when you are choosing a sandblasting media. Here are some of the properties that you should look out for.  

Grit Size and quality 

The grit size is an exceedingly important property in abrasives. Grit size depicts the value of the abrasive, which means that the larger the grit size, the finer the abrasive. Ideally, smaller grit size means that the abrasive is a bit coarse. Other than size, quality should also be considered. The backing materials used for bonding should demonstrate a high level of stamina and yet provide you with the kind of flexibility that you need. A flexible abrasive is not only easy to cut and fold, but its grit and coating remain intact. 

Hardness 

The hardness of the abrasive material should be determined by how hard or soft the surface to be blasted is. Soft material has a less impact on a hard surface as compared to hard material. However, you should know that there are different levels of hardness when it comes to abrasive materials. An extremely hard material will help you clean the surface very fast, but it may end up destroying the surface as well. Choose wisely, having in mind the kind of look you want to achieve with the surface. 

Density

Density is the amount of matter that an object has to its volume. The particles used to make abrasive materials ought to be very dense as this puts more pressure on the surface. Thus dense particles are more efficient and precise when it comes to sandblasting since such a particle has more impact on the surface than the same particle with low density and the same volume as density. 

Aesthetic Property

The general look and appearance should speak volumes about the quality of the abrasive. While high-quality abrasives remain intact, poor quality abrasives undergo unusual peeling and cracking with very minimal pressure. Some abrasives that are poorly manufactured can affect your surfaces by either leaving you with untidy surface or uneven and poorly done edges.

Sandblasting is a widely used procedure in various industries as it has very many uses and applications. Choosing the right abrasive material for sandblasting is, therefore, very crucial. Be very precise when choosing the abrasive material to make sure it is the most ideal for the intended surface.