Description
Brown aluminum oxide is the workhorse angular abrasive for blast cabinets and blast rooms: manufactured from high-grade bauxite fused in an electric arc furnace, chemically inert, extremely fast cutting and reusable many times. It is the right choice for aggressive cleaning, etching, deburring and surface preparation before coating, and at low pressure it frosts glass and letters stone. Supplied by Solvent Recycling Systems in 55 lb bags and 40-bag skids, grades 16 through 400.
Quick Specifications
| Working speed | High |
| Recyclability | Medium-high |
| Probability of metal removal | Medium-high |
| Hardness | Mohs 8–9 (TDS: ≥ 9.0; micro-hardness HV1800–2200) |
| Bulk density | 125 lb/cu ft (101–128 lb/cu ft by grade) |
| Mesh range | 12–325 |
| Typical blast pressure | 30–90 psi |
| Shape | Angular |
| Free silica | Less than 1% |
| Packaging | 55 lb bag; skid of 40 bags |
Advantages
- Reusable and recyclable through a cyclonic reclaimer
- Low dusting; low iron content so no rust staining on the part
- Less than 1% free silica
- Low coefficient of thermal expansion, high compression strength and toughness, self-sharpening grains
Applications
Surface preparation and blast cleaning, descaling and paint or coating removal, deburring, etching, grinding and non-skid flooring textures. Runs in suction and pressure cabinets (PowerBlast, CleanBlast), blast rooms and automated systems.
Grades and Kresco Codes
| Code | Grade | Mesh | Bulk density (lb/cu ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAO-16B-50 | 16 | 16–18 | 118.6–128.0 |
| AAO-20B-50 | 20 | 18–20 | 116.7–126.7 |
| AAO-24B-50 | 24 | 20–25 | 115.5–124.2 |
| AAO-30B-50 | 30 | 30–35 | 113.0–121.7 |
| AAO-36B-50 | 36 | 35–40 | 111.8–120.5 |
| AAO-46B-50 | 46 | 45–50 | 110.5–119.2 |
| AAO-54B-50 | 54 | 50–60 | 109.9–118.6 |
| AAO-60B-50 | 60 | 60–70 | 108.6–117.4 |
| AAO-70B-50 | 70 | 70–80 | 107.4–116.1 |
| AAO-80B-50 | 80 | 80–100 | 106.8–115.5 |
| AAO-90B-50 | 90 | 100–120 | 104.3–113.0 |
| AAO-100B-50 | 100 | 120–140 | 102.4–111.1 |
| AAO-120B-50 | 120 | 140–170 | 101.8–110.5 |
| AAO-150B-50 | 150 | 200–230 | 101.1–109.9 |
| AAO-180B-50 | 180 | 230–270 | 99.9–108.6 |
| AAO-220B-50 | 220 | 270–325 | 98.6–107.4 |
| AAO-240B-50 | 240 | 270–325 | 97.4–106.1 |
| AAO-280B-50 / 320B / 400B | 280 / 320 / 400 | finer | — |
Chemical Composition (Technical Data Sheet)
| Grit range | Al2O3 | SiO2 | Fe2O3 | TiO2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F12–F54 (fixed furnace) | 94.5 ± 0.5% | ≤ 1.5% | ≤ 0.30% | 2.0–3.5% |
| F60–F120 | 94.0 ± 0.5% | ≤ 1.8% | ≤ 0.30% | 2.2–3.5% |
| F150–F240 | 93.0 ± 0.5% | ≤ 2.2% | ≤ 0.40% | 2.5–3.5% |
| F12–F54 (tilting furnace, verified BFA) | 95.5 ± 0.5% | ≤ 1.2% | ≤ 0.12% | 2.0–3.5% |
Principal crystalline phase α-Al2O3; true specific gravity ≥ 3.90 g/cm³. Grits F12–F220, P12–P220 and #240–#4000 per FEPA / JIS / ANSI sieve standards; other sizes on request.
Brown or White?
Brown is tougher and lasts longer in the reclaimer; white aluminum oxide is purer (99.4% Al2O3), harder and more friable, for applications where iron contamination or a brighter finish matters. For a bright satin finish with no metal removal use glass beads; for steel in a blast room, steel grit.
Ordering
Brown aluminum oxide ships by the bag, skid or drum from Solvent Recycling Systems with the rest of your blasting consumables. Tell us the grade, quantity and your blast equipment and we’ll quote delivered pricing. Request a media quote or call (847) 833-7010. Not sure which abrasive? Start with our blast media selection chart and the nozzle air consumption chart.
