| From its first patent registration in 1870 to today, | | | | required, industrial painting and specialty coatings |
| sandblasting has continuously been a viable and | | | | must be used to protect not only the equipment |
| effective technique to remove corrosion, paint, | | | | but also the personnel nearby. |
| and other coatings. Advancement in design and | | | | For example, thermal or flame spray uses heat to |
| materials enable a vast array of equipment | | | | melt the sprayed material onto the receiving |
| protection options for businesses, industries, and | | | | surface, increasing the bonding and ensuring |
| the military. | | | | conformity to shapes and contours. Used for high |
| Car frames and parts, industrial drills, cranes, and | | | | corrosion resistance, thermal spraying also |
| ships are but a few items that often need | | | | performs well improving abrasion and impact |
| sandblasting and reapplying protective coatings to | | | | resistance. Some metals used in thermal spraying |
| safeguard against harsh operating environments | | | | include aluminum, copper, stainless steel, silver, and |
| and demands. Pump housings, sheet pilings, trailers, | | | | zinc, optimizing conductivity when needed via this |
| baseplates, and shipping containers are a few | | | | high-temperature application method. |
| examples of costly equipment that are exposed | | | | Powder coatings allow thorough blanketing of |
| to highly corrosive environments. Replacing them | | | | metal surfaces from a few millimeters to |
| due to corrosion or inadequate coating for the | | | | hundreds of meters in length. Like other coatings, |
| environment is far from cost-effective for any | | | | the purpose for the protection determines the |
| business or industry. | | | | compound used. |
| The term sandblasting encompasses using not | | | | Sandblasting needs spread outside traditional |
| only sand when possible, applicable, or legal, but | | | | business and industry parameters. The military |
| also using other materials, such as glass beads or | | | | requires equipment and asset sandblasting and |
| water. High pressure application of any material to | | | | coating routinely. The US Coast Guard and the US |
| remove intrusive or damaged material can be | | | | Navy both have dire need of rust and corrosion |
| considered sandblasting. | | | | removal and protection against them. Not only are |
| Depending on the equipment in need of | | | | the exteriors of the ships sandblasted and |
| sandblasting and their operating conditions, a wide | | | | treated, interior areas are, as well. |
| array of protective material could be utilized. | | | | Some common items include mess deck chairs, |
| Polyurethane, urethane, fluorocarbon, enamels, | | | | chain covers, vent screens, life boat canisters, |
| coal tar and other epoxies, and ceramics | | | | water-tight and non-water-tight hatches and |
| compose some of the materials and compounds | | | | doors, life jacket lockers, ammunition lockers, |
| effective in sandblasting and coating high-stress | | | | stantons and handrails, and intake louvers. Larger |
| materials. High operating temperatures need a | | | | exterior areas include hulls, gunwales, and anchors, |
| different compound than that for simple rust and | | | | to name only a few. Other military equipment |
| corrosion protection. | | | | might include tanks, jeeps, and Humvees, as well |
| Ordinary paint and other coatings may suffice in | | | | as other sensitive equipment and containers which |
| ordinary situations and environments, but when | | | | may weaken or fail if not properly treated with |
| low coefficient of friction, exemplary corrosion | | | | protective coatings and rust and corrosion |
| resistance, and high abrasion resistance are | | | | removal. |