Shot blasting concrete is a surface preparation technique used in construction to clean, roughen, or profile concrete, steel, or other materials. It involves the use of high-speed steel shots (small spherical metallic beads) fired through a specialized shot blasting machine onto the surface to be treated. The impact of the shots removes dirt, rust, scale, or other surface contaminants and can also produce a textured surface, increasing the bond strength between the surface and the subsequent coating or overlay material. Shot blasting for construction is commonly used in flooring and concrete surface preparation, steel surface cleaning, and surface preparation for painting or coating application.
Probably at this point, you're asking why an abrasive blasting machine is used. Shot-blasting concrete floors are necessary for a variety of reasons. For instance, if you want to paint concrete or apply a new coat of epoxy or urethane, the surface must be clean and free of any chemicals, adhesives, and previous coatings. Concrete floors can be shot-blasted to ensure optimal adherence and prolong the lifespan of the coating. Blasting concrete is also excellent for giving concrete texture and creating "peaks and valleys." You increase the surface area and give the coating more to "grab" while it cures in addition to creating a fantastic look.
The two methods listed below are employed during shot-blasting during construction. The first method is referred to as wheel blasting. By rotating a turbine wheel, the wheel blasting method turns electric motor energy directly into kinetic abrasive energy. Each wheel has a capacity ranging from roughly 60 kg per minute to 1200 kg per minute. Wheel blasting machines are used when huge parts or large sections of surface need to be cleaned, desanded, descaled, deburred, de-rusted, or otherwise processed.
The second method is known as "air operated shot blasting machine," and it uses compressed air pressure to drive abrasive material. The abrasive blasting pot, dust collector, and abrasive recycling system all function together in the blasting chamber. To fully reclaim floors that transport the abrasive and clean the surface, one must either shovel or sweep the abrasive back into the blast pot.
Regardless of the technology employed, shot-blasting offers the following benefits:
