Steel shot
High Carbon Steel Shot
Steel shot, also written as steelshot, is a spherical metallic abrasive used to clean metal components. Typical applications include removing rust, mill scale and old coatings from steel plates, profiles and castings. Because the abrasive can be recovered and reused repeatedly, steel shot is suitable for blasting processes with a closed recovery system.
Airblast manufactures high carbon steel shot in-house and supplies a range of particle sizes. The right choice depends on the workpiece, the contamination, the required surface profile and the blasting machine.
Airblast-Abrasives B.V.
Kelvinstraat 8
1704 RS Heerhugowaard
The Netherlands
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- More than 50 years of experience
- Airblast offices in 12 countries
About steel shot abrasives
Grain sizes
The steel shot abrasives are available in the following grain sizes:
| Product | Size range |
| Steel Shot S110 | 0,20 – 0,60 mm |
| Steel Shot S170 | 0,40 – 0,90 mm |
| Steel Shot S230 | 0,50 – 1,00 mm |
| Steel Shot S280 | 0,60 – 1,20 mm |
| Steel Shot S330 | 0,70 – 1,40 mm |
| Steel Shot S390 | 0,90 – 1,70 mm |
| Steel Shot S460 | 1,00 – 2,00 mm |
| Steel Shot S550 | 1,20 – 2,00 mm |
| Steel Shot S660 | 1,40 – 2,40 mm |
| Steel Shot S780 | 1,70 – 2,80 mm |
High carbon steel shot has a hardness of 40 to 50 HRC and is used in the majority of the shot blasting applications, it creates a dimpled, peened surface. Only the shot’s skin suffers from the impact and very thin flakes will progressively part from the shot, which itself stays round throughout its life cycle. Our steel shot is very durable with high resistance to impact fatigue, giving it an effective and quick cleaning rate.
Our high carbon steel shot is used in various applications like; desanding, descaling, cleaning, etc. The centrifugal atomization process and double heat treatment at our production plant, as well as continues quality control measures, ensures the shot to be of the highest quality.
Which steel shot should you choose?
Select steel shot according to the cleaning task, the required finish and the capabilities of the blasting machine. A larger particle is not automatically better: its size must suit the material and workpiece geometry.
Particle size: from fine to coarse
Finer steel shot grades, such as S110 and S170, are suitable for smaller components and applications requiring a finer surface finish. Medium grades, including S230, S280 and S330, are used for cleaning castings, pipes and steel structures. Coarser grades, such as S550, S660 and S780, are used for larger workpieces and heavier cleaning tasks.
Always match the particle size to the blasting machine and the required surface quality. If you are unsure, arrange a trial before selecting a grade for full production.
Application: cleaning, removing casting sand or deburring
When removing rust and mill scale, select steel shot according to the cleaning intensity and surface profile required. For castings, consider the amount of adhering sand and access to recesses. For deburring, assess the size of the burrs and the sensitivity of edges and detailed features.
Check both the cleanliness of the treated component and whether its surface condition and dimensions meet the specified requirements.
What is the difference between steel shot and steel grit?
Steel shot has rounded particles that produce a peening action. Steel grit has angular particles with a stronger cutting action and generally creates a sharper anchor profile.
Steel shot is widely used in wheel blasting machines to clean metal components. Steel grit may be more suitable when a more angular surface profile is required, for example before coating.
Check which particle sizes and hardness grades the installation can handle. When preparing a component for coating, use the coating system’s requirements to help determine the appropriate surface finish.
Specifications
| Chemical composition | (C): 0.80 – 1.20% | (Mn): 0.35 – 1.20% | (Si): ≥ 0.40 | (S): ≤ 0.05% | (P): ≤ 0.05% |
| Hardness | 40 – 50HRC, 52 – 56HRC, 56 – 60HRC | ||||
| Hardness deviation | Max. deviation ±3.0 HRC | ||||
| Microstructure | Tempered martensite or sorbite | ||||
| Density | 7.4 g/cm³ | ||||
| Bulk density | 4.4 g/cm³ | ||||
Application
| Steel Shot | Application |
| S780/SS2.5 S660/SS2.0 | Sand removal of large sized castings, scale removal of large sized products from forging, stamping, dieforging, drawing and rolling or after heat treatment (e.g. pipes, sections, plates, fittings, wire). |
| S550/SS1.7 S460/SS1.4 | Sand removal of large and medium sized castings, scale removal of forging and heat-treated work pieces, surface blast cleaning of steel plates, sections and steel structures, shot peening of work pieces, cutting of granite. |
| S390/SS1.2 S330/SS1.0 | Sand removal of medium and small sized castings, surface blast cleaning of forgings, heat-treated pieces, steel pipes, sections and steel structures, surface treatment before painting, shot peening of work pieces. |
| S280/SS0.8 S230/SS0.6 | Surface blast cleaning of small sized castings, forgings and heat-treated pieces, aluminium and copper alloy castings, steel plates, steel pipes, sections and steel structures, shot peening of work pieces. |
| S170/SS0.5 S110/SS0.3 | Surface blast cleaning of stainless steel plates, thin steel plates, non ferrous alloys, dacromet coat. |
