Wet blast process

Wet blasting processes can incorporate a phosphate conversion coating. Such systems are ideally suited to be used in conjunction with aqueous degreasing and wet blasting processes and produce a surface to which rubber can be securely bonded. The resistance to under-bond corrosion is one measure of how well the surface has been prepared. A phosphated metal can show superior performance in this respect over one prepared by poorly controlled dry grit blasting. 

The wet blasting process can be more adaptable than conventional dry blasting. Wet blasting can handle a wider range of abrasive materials, and a spray rinse automatically removes the blasting residue. 

The wet blast process is one of the world s most versatile, efficient and economical processes for metal cleaning and finishing, replacing costly chemicals and the need to sandblast. It saves hours of messy cleaning and eliminates health and environmental hazards associated with strong chemicals and dust from conventional blasting methods. 

The powerful wash available from the wet blast process removes any kind of oil and grease without any adjustment of the system. The wet blast media physically removes oil and grease from the surface of the components and prevents it from sticking to the surface. 

The wet blast process physically removes the surface oxide film and does not rely on a chemical reaction, therefore the range of materials that can be processed can be anything from common steel and steel alloy to special steels. This physical scraping off of the oxide layer means the process is consistent for each work piece and also does not require change of chemicals between different types of component metals. The universal nature of the wet blast process can significantly reduce process times if alternative processes require chemical or other changes between different types of components. 

Abrasive Developments have, in conjunction with their Japanese licensee, developed a wet blast phosphating plant that raises the quality standard within the industry. The solution achieved delivers high quality components from an automatic machine that combines both the cleaning and phosphating processes. The cleaning section benefits from the unique degreasing and surface treatment properties of the VAQUA process. 

In addition to these objectives, the demand from the automotive industry as a whole for this type of component was increasing, and the requirement was for it to be phosphated prior to bonding whilst still keeping the cost at an acceptable level. To achieve the improved quality and reduced cost requirements the wet blast phosphating plant had to operate continuously and automatically process the metal parts for phosphating. 

The plant has two major processing sections, the wet blast section and the phosphate treatment section. 

Wet blasting removes the oxide film covering the metal parts and exposes the pure metal under the film offering an ideal condition for the phosphate treatment which follows. The process is so efficient that even cast components, if wet blasted, can be treated with phosphate which was impossible using traditional methods. 

The quality of the phosphating achieved is very dependent upon the surface finish of the component prior to phosphating. The surface finish achieved through wet blasting is ideal for the phosphating process, hence the high quality film. 

The wet blast phosphating plant is fully automated which means that once the initial set up is complete, the repeatability of the process ensures a consistent quality of component after phosphating. In an alternative system where a barrel transfers components from one process to the next the inconsistency of time in each stage means that there could be some inconsistency in the end result, which is not the case with the wet blast phosphating plant. 

The Wet Blast Phosphating Plant Can Process Any Type of Material... 

The automatic nature of the wet blast phosphating plant means that once loaded the machine will complete the process automatically allowing the operator to carry out other tasks at the same time. This may even be operating more than one wet blast phosphating plant because the small footprint of this machine will allow two of these machines to be located in the area normally allocated to a conventional process. 

Any shape of component can be processed throngh the wet blast phosphating plant without the possibility of any liqnid remaining inside the component. The barrel in the machine has... 

Stage 3 Wet blast section Simultaneous degreasing and matt surface finishing through barrel processing... 

When the latter is half full, stop the process and withdraw the small glass tube from it, taking care not to wet the constriction. Bring the tube, still in the freezing bath, to the blast lamp and seal it at the constriction. This will take some skill, and it is well to try the manipulation on an empty tube or one half nhe... 

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