Sponge Blasting Removes Toxic Coatings Safely

By Kerri Stout


Even though lead-based paint has not been used for nearly four decades, many standing, inhabited structures are still covered with multiple layers of this dangerous substance. Safe removal includes protecting nearby residents from the toxic residue disturbed during the cleanup process, including unhealthy airborne dust. Sponge blasting achieves that goal without the billowing clouds, disruption and noise that accompany traditional sandblasting.

The process is important to industrial scouring and cleanup as well as lead paint removal. It is safe and effective to use on various materials, including easy-to-damage layers of substrate, hard surfaces including stone, and even heavy machinery. Commonly compared to sand, abrasives, or carefully targeted high-pressure water jets, this scouring process is technically more advanced. The abrasives cause measurably less surface trauma, and are safer environmentally.

Sponge media make this possible. They are actually tiny, water-based polyurethane bits that contain different strengths of abrasive material. When shot under high pressure onto a surface, their unique chemical consistency actually collects and surrounds fragments of surface paint or rust. Sponges absorb the environmentally harmful substances, which can later be chemically removed, and the media recycled. Disposal is consistent with current EPA standards.

There are five basic categories of media, and each is color-coded to best describe its intended function. Steel grit is encased in Red sponge media, and is best suited for slicing through tough industrial coatings. The aluminum oxide in Silver media targets paint and similar hard adherents, and is also used to pre-condition surfaces in paper and petrochemical production.

Flaking coats of old paint and lighter industrial sealers are easily removed using Brown media, which is also effective against surface rusting. The White variety is commonly used by store owners to eliminate building graffiti, and can be used on composites, tile, or fiberglass. Green sponge media is the lightest abrasive, and is employed mainly to get rid of soot and grease deposits in places hard to reach with normal cleaning tools.

This method excels at suppressing nearly all the dust generated using harsher processes. Sandblasting initially costs less, primarily due to easy availability of materials. It is harder to precisely control during operations, however, and can lead to surface damage if great care is not exercised. Not only do sponges eliminate most residual dust clouds, but they also trap contaminants, and allow precision depth control.

Some forms of media can be cleaned and re-used multiple times, making them more economical through recycling. Unlike traditional methods, the machinery used to blast the particles onto cleaning surfaces is less intrusive and noisy, making it possible to complete co-located jobs without completely suspending operations in adjacent offices or apartments. It is also safer for both workers and those occupying the structure.

Fewer toxic emissions and a generally higher quality of surface preparation and cleanup is the end result. There is less chance for contractors to be slapped with fines for violating environmental regulations, and nearby residents are usually less hostile to the interruption. Setup is not as complicated as older methods, residue and dust is more readily controlled, and safe disposal and recycling of materials help finish the job efficiently.




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