What is Soda Blasting?

Soda blasting is an alternative form of paint removal. As well as being environmentally friendly, soda blasting is surface- friendly. Soda blasting does, however, leave a thin film of white powder dust on the surface being cleaned. The process can utilize existing sand-blasting equipment, but equipment designed specifically for soda blasting is gaining market share due to the increase of popularity.

Definition

Soda blasting is the use of bicarbonate of soda, also known as baking soda, in conjunction with compressed air for the removal of paint, rust or any other coating. The process is abrasive, but relatively gentle, and can be used on virtually any surface.

History

The process of soda blasting was developed in the 1980s, specifically to clean the Statue of Liberty without causing any harm to her exterior. Due to the success of that project, as well as the other benefits soda blasting offers, it has gained in popularity over the years.

How was Soda blast developed?

Back in 1972, when New York State engineers were looking for ways to clean the Statue of Liberty, they had many concerns involving issues of the environment, waste disposal, and protection of the statues surface itself. Any use of any abrasive material to clean the surface would have been very harmful to the soft copper plates, let alone the waste in the water surrounding the statue. Soda blasting was invented because it would not only do the job while having a negligible impact on the waterways and harbour, but it was also non-abrasive. Just like the surface of the Statue of Liberty, this non-abrasive action allows Soda blasting to be used on surfaces that currently popular abrasive media would damage. i.e.: aluminium, stainless steel, brick, stone, glass, fibreglass, wood, some plastics, seals, bearings, splines, radiator cores, transmission cases, and hydraulic cylinders. In some cases, using dry blasting, shutdown of electric motors and pumps is not necessary.

How Does Soda Blasting Work?

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.

Is water used as part of the soda blasting process?

Water is often not used as part of the cleaning process. Water is sometimes used as a dust suppressant. It is sometimes used to activate the baking soda to allow its cleaning qualities to be realised as well as its virtues as a blast media. For softer substrates such as wood, water reduces any cutting action by as much as 20 to 30 percent thus preventing substrate damage. When water is used with the Soda blasting process it is not used to propel the blast media. It is used to provide a moist surface to prevent dust, activate baking soda and reduce cutting action of soda. The result of this is that only a tiny amount of water is used in comparison to water blasting/ pressure washing. When it is appropriate to use water in the Soda blasting process, the water literally trickles out the end of the Soda blasting hose. Examples of where water would and would not be used follow:

Boat hull cleaning and preparation – no – dust and paint / antifoul are contained in a purpose built plastic tent and disposed of in environmentally safe way. Not using water near public waterways is a major advantage of cleaning boats with Soda blasting

Food preparation equipment cleaning – sometimes – activating the cleaning quality of baking soda is generally advantageous. Water is also used after blasting to wash soda and contaminant remnants away

Graffiti cleaning – generally no – may be used as a dust suppressant in confined areas

Vehicle paint stripping – no – other than to wash away soda remnants

Monuments – generally no – unless required as a dust suppressant

Masonry – generally no – unless required as a dust suppressant

Machinery – generally no – other than to wash away soda remnants

Is Soda Blasting better than sand and garnet blasting?

Sand and garnet blasting removes contaminants by wearing away the contaminant. It is unavoidable that whilst doing this, the underlying substrate is also worn away to some degree. Depending on the substrate material and what it is being used for, it is often the case that the substrate is damaged. By contrast, Soda blasting particles remove contaminants by the energy released when the particles explode as they come in contact with the surface to be cleaned. This results in no damage to underlying substrates.

Soda blasting does not activate metal. By contrast, sand and garnet blasting does. Activating metal causes it to react to its surroundings. In the case of ferrous metals, they rust. The result is that ferrous metals that have been sand blasted will require immediate coating to prevent rusting. By contrast, metal that has been cleaned using Soda blasting will rust at a much reduced rate and can be coated days after blasting rather than hours.

In the manufacturing of a metal object, sometimes an engineer will specify that metal should be sand blasted using a specific grade of blast media. The reason for sand blasting is to create a specific surface profile. Except in cases of rusting, sand blasting is generally not specified because it is the best method of cleaning the metal but rather for its ability to profile. Soda blasting will not create a surface profile as the metal will not be affected by the Soda blasting process. In this case, it is appropriate to sand blast the metal rather than Soda blasting.

Is there any heat build-up as there is in sand blasting?

There is no heat build-up when blasting with sodium bicarbonate. Since there is no heat build-up, warping is eliminated.

Is there any risk on fire with Sand Blasting?

Its non-flammable properties allow sodium bicarbonate to be used for cleaning in the petroleum industry where other methods could not be used. Static electricity is an unavoidable by product of using high pressure air to propel blast media. Whilst Soda blasting reduces the amount of static produced, there is still a need to properly ground a metal object. However, sodium bicarbonate does not produce electrical sparks the same way that sand striking metal does. This is an obvious advantage where flammable gases and liquids might be present.

Is Bicarbonate Soda environmentally safe?

Yes, otherwise known as baking soda and used in everyday cooking; this product is also used to settle an upset stomach. Its alkaline properties could harm plants and vegetation if not rinsed properly and all areas should be washed down with water during the clean-up process. All remnants of the paint or other contaminates may need to be collected or filtered. But the soda itself has no impact on the environment and is completely safe. The Soda blasting method is endorsed by the USDA (United States Dept. of Agriculture) and the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) and is Kosher approved.

Benefits

Soda blasting does not damage the surface being cleaned. It also removes grease and other debris. This process can be used to clean any surface, refinish wood furniture or remove paint from metal objects. Additionally, the film remaining after soda blasting treatment is completed inhibits the formation of rust on metal for several months after treatment.

Comparisons

Other methods historically used to remove paint and other coatings include sand, glass, aluminium, coal, steel, walnut shells and corn husks. Inorganic methods are extremely harsh, but effective. They remove surface coatings and rust but can damage surfaces with the heat produced by the friction when the substance strikes the surface coating. Organic methods, such as walnut shells, are less harsh, but are less effective. Organic methods are also ineffective at getting into small crevices, and can leave paint or rust behind in tiny cracks in the surface. Soda blasting, however, is extremely effective, cleans surfaces completely without leaving any trace of paint, rust, or other coating behind, and does not scratch or warp the surface during or after application.

Considerations

Soda blasting reduces all surface coatings to powder. Due to this effect, it may appear that no clean-up is necessary. Toxins may exist in the coating that has been removed, however, so it is necessary to ensure that all residual dust from the treatment has been swept up and disposed of properly.


Home Pages What is Soda Blasting? Our services Gallery Contact Us	What is Soda Blasting? Soda blasting is an alternative form of paint removal. As well as being environmentally friendly, soda blasting is surface- friendly. Soda blasting does, however, leave a thin film of white powder dust on the surface being cleaned. The process can utilize existing sand-blasting equipment, but equipment designed specifically for soda blasting is gaining market share due to the increase of popularity. Definition Soda blasting is the use of bicarbonate of soda, also known as baking soda, in conjunction with compressed air for the removal of paint, rust or any other coating. The process is abrasive, but relatively gentle, and can be used on virtually any surface. History The process of soda blasting was developed in the 1980s, specifically to clean the Statue of Liberty without causing any harm to her exterior. Due to the success of that project, as well as the other benefits soda blasting offers, it has gained in popularity over the years. How was Soda blast developed? Back in 1972, when New York State engineers were looking for ways to clean the Statue of Liberty, they had many concerns involving issues of the environment, waste disposal, and protection of the statues surface itself. Any use of any abrasive material to clean the surface would have been very harmful to the soft copper plates, let alone the waste in the water surrounding the statue. Soda blasting was invented because it would not only do the job while having a negligible impact on the waterways and harbour, but it was also non-abrasive. Just like the surface of the Statue of Liberty, this non-abrasive action allows Soda blasting to be used on surfaces that currently popular abrasive media would damage. i.e.: aluminium, stainless steel, brick, stone, glass, fibreglass, wood, some plastics, seals, bearings, splines, radiator cores, transmission cases, and hydraulic cylinders. In some cases, using dry blasting, shutdown of electric motors and pumps is not necessary. How Does Soda Blasting Work? 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. Is water used as part of the soda blasting process? Water is often not used as part of the cleaning process. Water is sometimes used as a dust suppressant. It is sometimes used to activate the baking soda to allow its cleaning qualities to be realised as well as its virtues as a blast media. For softer substrates such as wood, water reduces any cutting action by as much as 20 to 30 percent thus preventing substrate damage. When water is used with the Soda blasting process it is not used to propel the blast media. It is used to provide a moist surface to prevent dust, activate baking soda and reduce cutting action of soda. The result of this is that only a tiny amount of water is used in comparison to water blasting/ pressure washing. When it is appropriate to use water in the Soda blasting process, the water literally trickles out the end of the Soda blasting hose. Examples of where water would and would not be used follow: Boat hull cleaning and preparation – no – dust and paint / antifoul are contained in a purpose built plastic tent and disposed of in environmentally safe way. Not using water near public waterways is a major advantage of cleaning boats with Soda blasting Food preparation equipment cleaning – sometimes – activating the cleaning quality of baking soda is generally advantageous. Water is also used after blasting to wash soda and contaminant remnants away Graffiti cleaning – generally no – may be used as a dust suppressant in confined areas Vehicle paint stripping – no – other than to wash away soda remnants Monuments – generally no – unless required as a dust suppressant Masonry – generally no – unless required as a dust suppressant Machinery – generally no – other than to wash away soda remnants Is Soda Blasting better than sand and garnet blasting? Sand and garnet blasting removes contaminants by wearing away the contaminant. It is unavoidable that whilst doing this, the underlying substrate is also worn away to some degree. Depending on the substrate material and what it is being used for, it is often the case that the substrate is damaged. By contrast, Soda blasting particles remove contaminants by the energy released when the particles explode as they come in contact with the surface to be cleaned. This results in no damage to underlying substrates. Soda blasting does not activate metal. By contrast, sand and garnet blasting does. Activating metal causes it to react to its surroundings. In the case of ferrous metals, they rust. The result is that ferrous metals that have been sand blasted will require immediate coating to prevent rusting. By contrast, metal that has been cleaned using Soda blasting will rust at a much reduced rate and can be coated days after blasting rather than hours. In the manufacturing of a metal object, sometimes an engineer will specify that metal should be sand blasted using a specific grade of blast media. The reason for sand blasting is to create a specific surface profile. Except in cases of rusting, sand blasting is generally not specified because it is the best method of cleaning the metal but rather for its ability to profile. Soda blasting will not create a surface profile as the metal will not be affected by the Soda blasting process. In this case, it is appropriate to sand blast the metal rather than Soda blasting. Is there any heat build-up as there is in sand blasting? There is no heat build-up when blasting with sodium bicarbonate. Since there is no heat build-up, warping is eliminated. Is there any risk on fire with Sand Blasting? Its non-flammable properties allow sodium bicarbonate to be used for cleaning in the petroleum industry where other methods could not be used. Static electricity is an unavoidable by product of using high pressure air to propel blast media. Whilst Soda blasting reduces the amount of static produced, there is still a need to properly ground a metal object. However, sodium bicarbonate does not produce electrical sparks the same way that sand striking metal does. This is an obvious advantage where flammable gases and liquids might be present. Is Bicarbonate Soda environmentally safe? Yes, otherwise known as baking soda and used in everyday cooking; this product is also used to settle an upset stomach. Its alkaline properties could harm plants and vegetation if not rinsed properly and all areas should be washed down with water during the clean-up process. All remnants of the paint or other contaminates may need to be collected or filtered. But the soda itself has no impact on the environment and is completely safe. The Soda blasting method is endorsed by the USDA (United States Dept. of Agriculture) and the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) and is Kosher approved. Benefits Soda blasting does not damage the surface being cleaned. It also removes grease and other debris. This process can be used to clean any surface, refinish wood furniture or remove paint from metal objects. Additionally, the film remaining after soda blasting treatment is completed inhibits the formation of rust on metal for several months after treatment. Comparisons Other methods historically used to remove paint and other coatings include sand, glass, aluminium, coal, steel, walnut shells and corn husks. Inorganic methods are extremely harsh, but effective. They remove surface coatings and rust but can damage surfaces with the heat produced by the friction when the substance strikes the surface coating. Organic methods, such as walnut shells, are less harsh, but are less effective. Organic methods are also ineffective at getting into small crevices, and can leave paint or rust behind in tiny cracks in the surface. Soda blasting, however, is extremely effective, cleans surfaces completely without leaving any trace of paint, rust, or other coating behind, and does not scratch or warp the surface during or after application. Considerations Soda blasting reduces all surface coatings to powder. Due to this effect, it may appear that no clean-up is necessary. Toxins may exist in the coating that has been removed, however, so it is necessary to ensure that all residual dust from the treatment has been swept up and disposed of properly.	Dominic 0407 477 940 Paul 0429 681 122 Email us