ARMEX soda blast media
Remove coatings and contamination without surface degradation with this unique baking soda-based abrasive.
Soda blasting can be an effective, economical and environmentally friendly method of cleaning, paint removal and degreasing. Use it to remove coatings and contaminants without damage or deformation from a wide range of substrates.
ARMEX is not just any baking soda. It is a specially formulated sodium bicarbonate-based abrasive available in three grain sizes, and is twice as resistant to moisture as ordinary baking soda or other soda blasting agents. As a result, it flows better in the blast pot and is easy to store.
ARMEX XL has the largest particles. These particles have an average size of 270 microns. More mass means more penetrating power, making these formulations excellent for removing heavy coatings and heavy cleaning applications
ARMEX MAINTENANCE particles have an average size of 170 microns which means the coverage ratio is very high (more impacts per square cm). This results in faster blasting and is therefore the most widely used ARMEX grade.
ARMEX ANILOX has the smallest particles with an average size of 70 microns and is designed for very specific preparation requirements and for very sensitive surfaces.
Why should you use ARMEX?
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Substrate Preservation
This is the main reason for using ARMEX. It is naturally soft, only 2.5 on Moh's hardness scale. When used correctly, it will not affect even the most delicate surfaces. For example, it does not etch glass.
This property makes it excellent for cleaning critical parts with machine tolerances or detailed contours that must be maintained. ARMEX can be used without damage or distortion to most ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
Moreover, ARMEX can be safely used around pumps, seals, bearings and even around rotating equipment without causing damage.
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One-pass media
ARMEX is a so-called ‘one-pass’ abrasive, meaning it can only be used once and is not recyclable. This is a direct consequence of the way ARMEX works.
Instead of generating an impact effect on the surface to be treated, each extremely brittle ARMEX particle shatters on impact, transferring all kinetic energy at that point to remove contaminants or coatings. The shattered fractions of the particle continue to sheer away the unwanted coating. All of the energy is dissipated and the media is reduced to dust.
This pulverisation occurs at any blasting pressure, whether you blast at 1 bar or 10 bar. The recommended MicroStrip blasting systems work very efficiently, so no abrasive is wasted and every ARMEX particle does its job.
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Eliminate Pre-wash
Using a one-pass media offers dual benefits.
First, by not having to worry about keeping the blasting media clean for reuse, you can place dirty, greasy or oily parts directly into a blast cabinet with ARMEX, eliminating pre-degreasing and/or cleaning. This not only saves on chemical costs, time and disposal costs associated with a pre-washing step, but also enables a more efficient workflow.
With ARMEX, you can degrease, clean and even de-coat in one step, simplifying and optimising your process.
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Eliminate re-contamination
You never run the risk of reintroducing contaminated material into/onto the workpiece and the risk of that contamination entering the original material. ARMEX media is always fresh and new, ensuring you optimum cleaning performance without any risk of recontamination.
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Eliminate post-inspection
ARMEX's friability and water solubility completely eliminates particle ingress problems. Particles can be flushed out of critical passages and tight contours with water. This property also often eliminates the need for disassembly or masking, avoiding additional steps such as reassembly or removal of masking material and saving time.
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NDT/NDI Testing and inspection
ARMEX's combination of softness, friability and water solubility prevents surface pitting, peening and cracking. This makes ARMEX an excellent preparation method for various physical inspection treatments, as it maintains surface integrity and provides an optimal basis for inspection processes.
Is soda blasting the best solution for you too?
With 30+ years of experience in the design and development of blasting equipment and ARMEX soda blast media, Gritco has an unrivalled, practical knowledge of this technology. Take advantage of all this knowledge and experience! Contact us without obligation for the right soda blasting solution.
