Abrasive blasting materials
What materials are allowed to be used on the construction site for abrasive blasting of steel structures?
All abrasive blasting materials are allowed except quartz sand.
In practice, slag is used for this, electrocorundum (aluminum oxide) and shot of hardened iron or a mixture of these materials in any proportions. The best abrasive effect is shown by aluminum oxide; however, this material is also the most expensive.
Please explain, why quartz sand may only be used for abrasive blasting in exceptional cases. Please list these exceptions
Quartz dust can cause silicosis (inflammatory lesions in the lungs due to dust inhalation). Therefore, the use of quartz sand for abrasive blasting has been severely limited.
Quartz sand may only be used for abrasive blasting of buildings, which are composed of quartz-containing materials anyway (however, these materials can only be wet blasted). Quartz sand can also be used in fully automated blasting equipment, enabling full exclusion of man from the harmful effects of this sand.