Although lead-based paint has not been available for over forty years, there are still thousands of buildings covered with multiple layers of that toxic coating. When paint or other industrial coatings must be removed, protecting nearby occupants from the clouds of dust generated by that process is a priority. Sponge blasting can achieve that goal without creating toxic dust, noise, and the disruption that accompanies sandblasting.
The technology is safe for use on most hard surfaces, vulnerable or easily damaged layers of substrate, and even some types of industrial equipment. Although this method is frequently compared to scouring processes using high pressure streams of water, other abrasives, or plain sand, it is a step ahead of them. While abrasives are still part of the equation, they are managed more easily, cause less damage, and little environmental harm.
Sponge media make this possible. They are actually tiny, water-based polyurethane bits that contain different strengths of abrasive material. When shot under high pressure onto a surface, their unique chemical consistency actually collects and surrounds fragments of surface paint or rust. Sponges absorb the environmentally harmful substances, which can later be chemically removed, and the media recycled. Disposal is consistent with current EPA standards.
The most common abrasives are included in five basic categories, and are color coded according to the function they best perform. Red sponge media contains steel grit, and is ideal for cutting through industrial coatings. Silver contains aluminum oxide abrasives for targeting paint and other hard coatings, as well as pre-conditioning surfaces for petrochemical and paper production companies.
Brown media is designed to remove flaking coats of paint, as well as lighter industrial coverings, and can also be used to eliminate surface rust. White is often used to get rid of building graffiti, and also works well on surfaces made of fiberglass, composite materials, or tile. The lightest form is Green sponge media, used primarily to clean light contaminants such as soot and grease in hard-to-reach locations.
The system eliminates nearly all dust generated using traditional scouring methods. Sandblasting is actually cheaper to use initially, because the cost of that material is lower, and it is readily available. Sand is more difficult to control during blasting, however, and can easily damage some types of material. Sponges not only suppress dust, but trap the contaminants inside, and the different abrasive ranges permit greater accuracy.
Scouring media is reusable multiple times after being cleaned, and recycling is economical over time. The machines that shoot these particles onto surfaces during cleaning are far less noisy and intrusive. In many cases, this cleaning process makes it possible to finish jobs in high density urban locations without forcing co-located businesses to suspend activity, and is also safer for nearby residents.
The final result is higher quality surface preparation, and safer emission levels. The local community greatly appreciates fewer interruptions, and contractors using this method often face fewer fines for breaking environmental regulations. When compared to other scouring methods, the setup is less involved, waste is more readily captured and safely eliminated, and the job completed both efficiently and quickly.
The technology is safe for use on most hard surfaces, vulnerable or easily damaged layers of substrate, and even some types of industrial equipment. Although this method is frequently compared to scouring processes using high pressure streams of water, other abrasives, or plain sand, it is a step ahead of them. While abrasives are still part of the equation, they are managed more easily, cause less damage, and little environmental harm.
Sponge media make this possible. They are actually tiny, water-based polyurethane bits that contain different strengths of abrasive material. When shot under high pressure onto a surface, their unique chemical consistency actually collects and surrounds fragments of surface paint or rust. Sponges absorb the environmentally harmful substances, which can later be chemically removed, and the media recycled. Disposal is consistent with current EPA standards.
The most common abrasives are included in five basic categories, and are color coded according to the function they best perform. Red sponge media contains steel grit, and is ideal for cutting through industrial coatings. Silver contains aluminum oxide abrasives for targeting paint and other hard coatings, as well as pre-conditioning surfaces for petrochemical and paper production companies.
Brown media is designed to remove flaking coats of paint, as well as lighter industrial coverings, and can also be used to eliminate surface rust. White is often used to get rid of building graffiti, and also works well on surfaces made of fiberglass, composite materials, or tile. The lightest form is Green sponge media, used primarily to clean light contaminants such as soot and grease in hard-to-reach locations.
The system eliminates nearly all dust generated using traditional scouring methods. Sandblasting is actually cheaper to use initially, because the cost of that material is lower, and it is readily available. Sand is more difficult to control during blasting, however, and can easily damage some types of material. Sponges not only suppress dust, but trap the contaminants inside, and the different abrasive ranges permit greater accuracy.
Scouring media is reusable multiple times after being cleaned, and recycling is economical over time. The machines that shoot these particles onto surfaces during cleaning are far less noisy and intrusive. In many cases, this cleaning process makes it possible to finish jobs in high density urban locations without forcing co-located businesses to suspend activity, and is also safer for nearby residents.
The final result is higher quality surface preparation, and safer emission levels. The local community greatly appreciates fewer interruptions, and contractors using this method often face fewer fines for breaking environmental regulations. When compared to other scouring methods, the setup is less involved, waste is more readily captured and safely eliminated, and the job completed both efficiently and quickly.
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