Abrasive Media

Our comprehensive list of abrasives

Here at Vixen Surface Treatments, we supply a wide range of abrasive media to use with your machine to provide the best results.

Our media is available in different grades which can produce different finishes depending on your application. Please take a look below.

If you are unsure which media is for you, please contact our Aftersales team on +44 (0)1642 769 333 and they can assist you further.

Product	Image	Description
Aluminium Oxide Virgin Brown		This is a sharp, fast-working abrasive which is used when ferrous blasting abrasives cannot be used due to any risk of corrosion. It is ideal for extremely hard substrates. This media retains its cutting ability as it chips easily on impact creating another new face. This media can vary in finer grades and especially when used in a pressure blast machine. Vixen offer three different types of Aluminium Oxide VB: 60-80 Flat sharpended, 60-80 or 80-120 Flat.
Aluminium Oxide VW		Aluminum Oxide Virgin White is a friable, high purity, medium density abrasive. It is designed for general industrial use in operations such as lapping, polishing, refractory coating for investment cast shells, decorative non-skid tile, and pressure blasting. It is used where a high purity and/or highly friable abrasive is desired. Virgin White is available in three grades: 46 Flat, 80-90 Flat and 280-320 Flat.
Chilled Iron Grit		A very abrasive media which is harder than steel and therefore has a quicker cleaning action. This media chips on impact with the component rather than wearing blunt. This range of grit is frequently used to prepare surfaces prior to the coating. Coating is then essential as the components blasted with this will have an iron content on the surface and will be prone to rusting. Vixen offer three types of grades: G07 Flat, G17 Flat or G24 Flat.
Glass Bead		A light abrasive material which is used primarily for peening and the removal of almost any surface blemish except corrosion or heavy scarring. It may also be used for texturing or producing attractive cosmetic finishes without damaging the component. There is no risk of corrosion or contamination as it is totally inert. The treated surfaces are not altered significantly and are left with a satin smooth finish. This media will have difficulty in removing paint and heavy surface deposits. It produces excellent results on soft metals such as aluminum or brass. Vixen offer three different types of Glass Bead: 150-300 Flat, 130-300 or 300-400 Flat.
Nickel Chrome Shot		This is a form of stainless steel shot which is used on non-ferrous components. When steel shot is used in the blasting process it leaves a ferrous residue – this is unacceptable on components made of materials such as aluminium or brass, as after a while the surface will rust. Stainless steel shot can, therefore, be used effectively on these types of metals, as rusting will not occur. Typical applications are preparing surfaces and removing discolouration after heat treatment. This media is available in NCS170 Flat or NCS330 Flat.
Organic Media		We supply two types of organic media – crushed walnut and olive stone. Crushed walnut is a softer abrasive which is quite economical in comparison to plastic media. Its softness makes it popular for de-flashing plastic moulds as the surface of the component will not be scratched or etched. Olive stone is an excellent hard abrasive which is often used instead of plastic media. Especially useful in the engine reconditioning market to remove paint and debris from engine blocks. The advantage with olive stone is any remaining particles in water jackets or cylinder heads will not present the danger that a plastic media would.
Plastic Chip		This media has excellent properties for cleaning components such as moulds when there must be no dimensional change to the components whatsoever, but only to remove carbon and other debris. It is therefore very popular in most moulding applications or the cleaning of extrusion dies. Plastic Chip is used heavily in aerospace industries due to the tight restrictions on contamination or any impurities found in the media. It is so controllable in the correct machine that it is possible to remove a single layer of paint leaving primer coat intact. This media allows usage of considerably lower pressures (15-40psi) than other types of media thus increasing efficiency. Plastic Chip is available in either 12-20 Flat or 20-40 Flat.
Steel Shot		Steel Shot Media is made from high carbon steel and is treated to give durability and resistance. It has extensive applications in general industry for the removal of scale, rust and surface contaminant. Steel abrasives are very popular with foundries for de-burring or de-flashing of castings and cleaning moulds. When used with a blast cabinet, little effluent or pollution are produced. This type of media is also well suited to peening/etching surfaces prior to bonding. Vixen offers three types of Steel Shot: S170 Flat, S330 Flat or S550 Flat.