Silicon Carbide Grit Blasting Media
Silicon Carbide Grit is the hardest abrasive media. This blasting media has very fast cutting action and can be recycled and re-used many times. The hardness of Silicon Carbide Grit allows for shorter blast times relative to other blasting media.
High-Performance Abrasive for Fast Cutting
Silicon Carbide Abrasive is an extremely hard, sharp, and fast-cutting material used for demanding blasting, etching, polishing, and surface preparation applications. Its angular grain provides aggressive cutting action and can help reduce blasting time when compared with softer abrasive materials.
Kramer Industries offers this abrasive in a wide range of mesh and grit sizes to support applications requiring anything from aggressive material removal to controlled surface finishing.
What Is Silicon Carbide Used For?
Silicon carbide is primarily used when a hard, fast-cutting abrasive is required for surface preparation, etching, engraving, cleaning, and finishing. Its high hardness makes it suitable for hard metals, glass, stone, ceramics, and other compatible materials.
Silicon Carbide Grit Blasting Media can create a defined surface profile while removing coatings, oxidation, scale, and other unwanted material. The selected grit size has a direct effect on the aggressiveness and final appearance of the treated surface.
Benefits
- High Purity With Minimal Contaminants
- Highly Durable and Reusable
- Long Lasting
- Hardest Blasting Media
- Very Fast Cutting Action
- Suitable for Heavy to Light Etching
- Minimal Magnetic Content
- Available in a Wide Variety of Mesh / Grit Sizes
- Lighter Than Metallic Media With a Denser Blast Stream
- Silica Free
Blasting Applications
- Etching and Carving of Hard Metals and Glass
- Stone, Glass, and Metal Engraving
- Preparing Surfaces for High-Performance Coatings
- High-Performance Etching and Frosting
- Micro-Blasting on Glass and Metal
General Applications
- Dark Wood Parts Tumbling / Sanding
- Rock and Stone Polishing
- Concrete Additive to “Sparkle” in Light
- Abrasion Resistance
- Slurry Polishing
- Grinding
- Edge Rounding in Tumbling
- Wet and Dry Barrel Tumbling
Selecting the Right Grit Size
The appropriate grit size depends on the substrate, desired surface profile, amount of material to be removed, and final appearance. Coarser grades generally provide more aggressive cutting and heavier etching, while finer grades can provide greater control for detailed surface treatment.
When choosing silicon carbide grit, consider the material being processed, blasting pressure, nozzle configuration, coating thickness, and production requirements. Kramer Industries can help identify a suitable grade based on the application and desired finish.
Silicon Carbide for Surface Preparation
For demanding preparation work, silicon carbide abrasive blasting media provides strong cutting action for removing rust, scale, coatings, and other surface contaminants. Its sharp particles can create a consistent mechanical profile for subsequent painting, coating, bonding, or other finishing processes.
The material is particularly useful when the surface is hard or when rapid material removal is important. Silicon Carbide Blasting Media can also be used for precision preparation where a controlled etched finish is required.
Sandblasting and Precision Etching
Silicon carbide sandblasting media is suited to applications where a fast cutting response and defined surface treatment are required. It can be used for etching glass and stone, preparing hard metal surfaces, and creating controlled textures on compatible materials.
When used for detailed work, the selected mesh size and blasting pressure should be matched to the required depth and appearance. Finer grades can provide more controlled results, while coarser grades generally produce heavier etching.
Industrial Applications
The combination of high hardness and sharp grain geometry makes Silicon Carbide Abrasive suitable for industrial applications requiring efficient material removal and surface modification.
It can be used for precision components, hard metals, glass, ceramics, stone, and other compatible materials. Applications may include coating preparation, engraving, frosting, grinding, polishing, and specialized surface treatment.
Kramer Industries supplies multiple mesh sizes to support different production and finishing requirements.
Reusability and Media Life
Silicon carbide can be reused in suitable blasting and finishing systems, although its friability means that particles gradually fracture during use. This breakdown creates fresh cutting edges but also affects overall media life.
Silicon carbide grit can therefore provide strong cutting performance over repeated use, with actual service life depending on blasting pressure, substrate hardness, equipment configuration, recovery capability, contamination, and the desired surface result.
For applications where media recovery is important, operating conditions should be optimized to balance cutting performance with abrasive consumption.
Silicon Carbide Compared With Other Abrasives
Silicon Carbide Abrasive is harder and generally more aggressive than many commonly used blasting abrasives. Its sharp, angular grain provides rapid cutting and makes it suitable for applications where shorter blasting times or detailed etching are important.
Compared with aluminum oxide, silicon carbide offers greater hardness and sharper cutting characteristics but can also fracture more readily. The appropriate abrasive depends on the substrate, required finish, production requirements, recovery system, and overall blasting process.
Specifications
Silicon Carbide Grit Blasting Media Specifications |
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Mesh Size |
Average Particle Sizethe smaller the mesh number, the coarser the grit |
Spec Sheet |
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8 Mesh
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45% 8 mesh (2.3 mm) or larger |  |
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10 Mesh
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45% 10 mesh (2.0 mm) or larger | |
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12 Mesh
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45% 12 mesh (1.7 mm) or larger | |
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14 Mesh
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45% 14 mesh (1.4 mm) or larger | |
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16 Mesh
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45% 16 mesh (1.2 mm) or larger | |
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20 Mesh
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70% 20 mesh (0.85 mm) or larger | |
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22 Mesh
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45% 20 mesh (0.85 mm) or larger | |
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24 Mesh
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45% 25 mesh (0.7 mm) or larger | |
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30 Mesh
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45% 30 mesh (0.56 mm) or larger | |
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36 Mesh
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45% 35 mesh (0.48 mm) or larger | |
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40 Mesh
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45% 40 mesh (0.42 mm) or larger | |
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46 Mesh
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40% 45 mesh (0.35 mm) or larger | |
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54 Mesh
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40% 50 mesh (0.33 mm) or larger | |
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60 Mesh
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40% 60 mesh (0.25 mm) or larger | |
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70 Mesh
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40% 70 mesh (0.21 mm) or larger | |
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80 Mesh
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40% 80 mesh (0.17 mm) or larger | |
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90 Mesh
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40% 100 mesh (0.15 mm) or larger | |
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100 Mesh
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40% 120 mesh (0.12 mm) or larger | |
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120 Mesh
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40% 140 mesh (0.10 mm) or larger | |
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150 Mesh
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40% 200 mesh (0.08 mm) or larger | |
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180 Mesh
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40% 230 mesh (0.06 mm) or larger | |
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220 Mesh
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40% 270 mesh (0.046 mm) or larger | |
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240 Mesh
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38% 325 mesh (0.037 mm) or larger | |
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280 Mesh
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Median: 33.0-36.0 micron | |
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320 Mesh
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Median: 26.3-29.2 micron | |
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360 Mesh
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Median: 20.1-23.1 micron | |
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400 Mesh
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Median: 15.5-17.5 micron | |
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500 Mesh
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Median: 11.3-13.3 micron | |
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600 Mesh
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Median: 8.0-10.0 micron | |
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800 Mesh
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Median: 5.3-7.3 micron | |
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1000 Mesh
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Median: 3.7-5.3 micron | |
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1200 Mesh
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Median: 2.6-3.6 micron | |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is silicon carbide grit used for?
Silicon carbide grit is used for aggressive surface preparation, etching, engraving, cleaning, polishing, grinding, and other abrasive finishing applications. It is particularly suitable for hard metals, glass, stone, ceramics, and other compatible materials where fast cutting action is required.
Q2. What is the best grit for a silicon carbide grip?
If “grip” refers to a surface requiring silicon carbide abrasive treatment, the appropriate grit depends on the material and desired finish. Coarser grades generally provide more aggressive cutting and deeper etching, while finer grades are better suited to controlled surface treatment and finishing.
Q3. Is silicon carbide hazardous?
Silicon carbide should be handled according to the applicable product safety documentation and blasting-equipment requirements. Abrasive blasting can generate airborne dust, so appropriate ventilation, dust control, respiratory protection, eye protection, and other required personal protective equipment should be used.
Q4. How does silicon carbide compare with aluminum oxide?
Silicon carbide is harder and generally provides faster cutting action than aluminum oxide. It is often selected for hard surfaces and applications requiring aggressive or precise etching, while aluminum oxide can provide a balance of cutting performance, durability, and reuse for many general-purpose blasting applications.
Q5. Can silicon carbide be reused?
Yes. Silicon carbide can be reused in suitable applications, although its particles fracture more readily than some tougher abrasives. Actual media life depends on the substrate, operating pressure, equipment, recovery system, and required surface result.
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