Effect of Sandblasting Parameters and the Type and Hardness of the Material on the Number of Embedded Al2O3 Grains

Background: Is abrasive blasting accompanied by the phenomenon of driving abrasive particles into the conditioned material? Methods: Three hundred and fifteen cylindrical disks of three types of metal alloy (chromium/cobalt, chromium/nickel, titanium, and sintered zirconium dioxide) were divided into four groups (n = 35) and sandblasted at pressures of 0.2, 0.4, or 0.6 MPa with aluminum oxide (Al2O3), grain size 50, 110, or 250 μm. Then, the surface topography was examined using a scanning microscope, and the amount of embedded grain was measured using quantitative metallography. For each group, five samples were randomly selected and subjected to Vickers hardness testing. In the statistical analyses, a three-factor analysis of variance was carried out, considering the type of material, the size of gradation of the abrasive, and the amount of pressure. Results: The smallest amounts of embedded abrasive (2.62) were observed in the ZrO2 treatment, and the largest (38.19) occurred in the treatment of the Ti alloy. An increase in the gradation and the pressure were a systematic increase in the amount of embedded grain. Conclusions: After abrasive blasting, abrasive particles were found on the surface of the materials. The amount of driven abrasive depends on the hardness of the processed material.