EOW March 2014

News Technology

Wet blasting for wire

Changing the fluid pressures, blast material, slurry composition, number and direction of attack of the nozzles allows for a range of processing effects to be achieved, from harsh to soft. The best wet blasting machines for wire applications allow media concentration, process temperature, additives and blast pressures to be carefully controlled to provide a consistent surface finish that can be reproduced time after time. Vapormatt’s Profelis was developed in collaboration with 65 manufacturers across the globe. It is the insight gained from customers coupled with Vapormatt’s expert design capabilities that has produced such a powerful system. The controlled mix of gas, air, water and solids used in the Vapormatt wet blast process has enabled the machine

prepare surfaces, with the water creating a lubricating effect that increases the flow of particles across the surface being treated. Unlike dry blasting, the liquid cushion also protects delicate surfaces whilst eliminating any potentially harmful dust. Wet blasting results in surfaces that are extremely clean and reactive, with no embedded secondary contamination from the media. There is also the option to provide simultaneous cleaning and degreasing by heating the water and adding a mild detergent to ensure the effective removal of oily surface contamination. The most advanced wet blasting systems use powerful software programs to combine and monitor precisely controlled flows of gas, air and solids, which are mixed then accelerated through focused blasting nozzles.

When it comes to processing wire, wet blasting offers both a superior surface finish and significant reductions in production time. As David Clements, sales engineer at Vapormatt, explains, the best of today’s systems will also enable a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly production process. Wet blasting machines now offer exceptionally high quality results with all continuous wire, cable and strip products. Applications include overhead power cable, where wet blasting can improve emissivity without substrate damage; the cleaning of aluminium and copper feeder wire to remove surface imperfections or oxides, enabling cheaper feeder material to be extruded into intricate and multi-void profiles; and the cleaning of steel wire to remove drawing lubricants before downstream forming, machining and heat treatment.

to be employed in a range of applications, including heat scale and surface contamination removal; cos- metic finishing; and prep- aration for bonding, coating, encapsulation and cladding. In conclusion, wet blasting offers high quality results and is kinder to the environment, as well as delivering exc- eptional surface quality.

Wet blasting can be used to clean, degrease, descale, etch or satin polish and provides an extremely consistent surface finish that can be reproduced time after time with a wide range of diameters and materials, including plastic, soft metals and steel. The wet blasting process combines compressed air, abrasive media and water in a slurry form to clean and

Vapormatt Ltd – UK Website : www.vapormatt.com

▲ ▲ Vapormatt Profelis

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March 2014