The Chemours Company introduced a new line of value-priced, low free-silica blasting abrasives for surface preparation at SSPC2018, held this week in New Orleans. The trade show and technical conference is sponsored by the Society for Protective Coatings, a non-profit professional association focused on the protection and preservation of concrete, steel and other industrial and marine structures and surfaces by using high-performance protective, marine and industrial coatings.

Branded as AlZiBlast, these value-priced alumina silicate abrasives are ideal for applications requiring a less aggressive blasting profile, and are a suitable replacement for fine silica sands. The AlZiBlastabrasives are the latest addition to the Chemours portfolio of natural abrasives that includes Starblastgeneral purpose staurolite blasting abrasives used for surface preparation in construction, steel fabrication, auto repair/repainting applications, historic building restorations and bridge maintenance. Starblastabrasives are a loose blend of coarse-to-fine staurolite sands that have clean, rounded surfaces and are used to remove rust, mill scale and weathered coatings. Unlike coal and copper slag which often contain hazardous materials that have been confirmed in tests performed by NIOSH, Starblastabrasives are not residues of other processes and have fewer environmental and health concerns.

Also at the show, Chemours discussed how they have added capacity to meet a growing demand for low free-silica blasting abrasives and how Starblastabrasives are now being widely used in waterjet applications. Mined in Florida, the staurolite sands are processed, separated, graded, then dried in a natural-gas fired rotary dryer. Starblastabrasives--which are offered in five distinct grades to address specific application needs-- are available through a wide distributor network that services the U.S., Canada and Mexico.