How does Soda Blasting Work?
The process behind soda blasting is similar in nature to the more common sand blasting. Particles of the blasting medium being used is propelled by compressed air through specialized blasting machines. The difference lies in how the coating is removed. As the sodium bicarbonate particle contacts the surface it explodes. It is the energy released by this explosion that removes the coating from the surface. This is in contrast to silica sand that wears the coating away. Silica Sand also wears away a portion of the underlying surface where soda leaves it virtually unscathed. Corn Cob and K-2 work similarly to silica sand but are much softer and do not cause as much wear to the underlying surface.
The sodium bicarbonate used in the blasting process is a larger particle than the baking soda used in the food industry, although it is the same purity. The particles are propelled by compressed air through specialised blasting machines. Soda blasting particles remove surface contaminant by the energy released as the particles explode when pressure-driven into contact with the contaminant surface. The resulting energy release disrupts the contaminant surface and blows it away – thus leaving the substrate completely unaffected. Air pressures and hence, soda blasting particle velocity, can be varied from as low as 20 psi (pounds per square inch) on soft bases to 150 psi or more on hard surfaces. The operator sets the air pressure depending on the nature of the substrate and the type of contaminant to be removed.
