28.4.14

Basics Of Los Angeles Steel Grit

By Essie Osborn


Steel grit refers to particles of steel used for a variety of applications either as peening or abrasive media. They are created from steel shot with the key difference lying in the size and shape of the granules. They are manufactured from crushed steel shot which leaves them smaller in bulk. The edges are sharp and have some broken parts. Manufacturers say it is tougher than shot although the hardness might vary from one kind to another.

Advanced technology has rendered it easier to customize this commodity to great levels. In Los Angeles steel grit is made in three major categories, that is GL, GH, and GP. Of the three categories, GP is the softest. This category has a rounded external form due to shaping using steel water. Strengthening is done by use of special techniques to harden and make it strong with great fatigue resistance and elasticity.

GL is harder than GP and like GP, it loses the characteristic sharp edges during production due to shot blasting. It is best suited for preparing surfaces for painting or other applications and descaling. GH has maximum hardness with angular edges. This category produces smooth uniform surfaces when applied in surface treatment. It is recommended that it be used only in wheel machines mostly with compressed air blasting machines.

Beginners may find it hard deciding the right product to use in order to achieve elegant results. This article therefore gives some major points to consider in making the choice. When choosing, the most important aspects to consider are size, shape, and hardness. Hardness chosen should be based on the nature of dirt or surface to be cleaned and the speed of propulsion during use. The cost also varies with hardness hence must be considered too.

Hardness implies that the product is in a position to resist being deformed upon impact with the substrate it is propelled against. Breakage during application is reduced by balancing hardness with brittleness. Tough pellets can clean surfaces faster hence saving on time as compared to small sized pellets. The hardness of the selected pellets should be dictated by the work surface.

Size is the other vital factor to check when purchasing grit. The impact given by larger particles is much higher than that of smaller ones. Producers grade the particles in a manner that they have a uniform size to ensure consistency in results. Pellet size remains considerably the same even when different categories are mixed together.

This commodity has wide and varied applications. The main ones are blasting, peening, and cutting. When employed as a blasting media it eliminates contaminants on a broad range of substrates and surfaces. It imparts compressive power for loading metallic components like automotive springs, jet engine turbine blades, and heavy appliance crankshafts in peening applications. In cutting applications, pellets are utilized in gang.

Manufacturers do different tests on their products to ensure optimal performance. Some of these tests include metallographic and spectrographic analysis, particle fatigue testing, variable durability analysis, micro hardness testing and several others. It would be difficult to determine performance without these tests.




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