INFORMATION ABOUT PRECIOUS METAL SANDBLASTING

You can find information and explanations about precious metal sandblasting on this web page. A precious metal is a rare, naturally occurring metallic chemical element of high economic value. The best known precious metals are the gold and silver. Although both have industrial uses, they are better known for their uses in art, jewellery and coinage. Other precious metals include the platinum group metals: ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum, of which platinum is the most widely traded. They are usually ductile and have a high lustre.

The process of sandblasting is usually made for more aesthetic surface appearance for the precious metals. In addition it should be noted that sandblasting increases metal life time and the scratch resistance. No matter how hard it is all metals can be scratched over time. These scratches bring the wears in gold and silver. For platinum, the situation is slightly different. Scratch happens, but the wear takes place much more slowly. Gold, silver and platinum surfaces would be get rid of scratches by the methods of precious metal sandblasting and polishing.

Benchtop sandblasting machines are used for the sandblasting of precious metals. These machines are capable of sandblasting process at micro levels; by appropriate abrasives pressurized with dry air and has been developed for perfectly targeting to the surface through a small nozzle. Gold sandblasting, silver sandblasting and platinum sandblasting can be done successfully with benchtop sandblasting machines and appropriate abrasives.

Spherical abrasives should be preferred for brighter surfaces. When surface roughness is desired, hard and sharp-edged abrasives should be used. Spherical sandblasting medias with a smooth surface such as glass beads, stainless steel shots, ceramic shots would be preferred for harder and scratch resistant surfaces. We recommend sandblasting medias for precious metal sandblasting (gold sandblasting, silver sandblasting and platinum sandblasting) as follows: Glass beads, aluminum oxide, stainless steel shots, ceramic shots, blasting soda and plastic abrasives.