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Copper Slag (Iron Silicate)

Why Choose Copper Slag?  Copper slag (Iron Silicate) abrasive has a HIGHER DENSITY THAN COAL SLAG (~20% HIGHER)  AND WILL THUS BLAST FASTER THAN COAL SLAG, AND YOU CAN RECLAIM IT A COUPLE OF TIMES AS WELL.  Copper will therefore result in less product consumption, less disposal cost, and overall, a more cost-effective media to use when compared with garnet, aluminum oxides, or crushed bottle glass, or coal slags.

  • Sharpshot® qualifies as a Type II, Class A abrasive when tested in accordance with section 4.1 of SSPC Abrasive Standard No.1 (SSPC-AB-1).
  • Copper slag is a hard, cubical, and aggressive sandblasting media.   Contrary to its name it contains almost no copper!
  • Best abrasive to use when ranked on cutting speed and cost per sq. ft.
  • CARB approved
  • Recyclable into Portland Cement
  • Blastox is available - please specify percentage required when requesting a quote (15% or 20%).
  • Angular and Aggressive.
  • Request A Freight Quotation

Sharpshot (R) copper slag (Iron Silicate) sandblasting abrasive profiles:  ** Typical profile results when blasting carbon steel @ 90-100 psi (at the nozzle), 18”-24” from surface, and at a 45 to 90-degree angle

  • X-Coarse:  12/30   4.5 - 5.5 mil profile, for heavily corroded surfaces and multiple layers of coatings.  Ships, bridges 
  • Coarse:  20/50   3.5-4.0 mil profile, general purpose blasting and underwater waterjet cutting
  • Medium: 30/60   2.5-3.5 mil profile, good on new steel and lightly corroded surfaces
  • Fine:  40/80   2.0-3.0 mil profile, good on new steel with little corrosion
  • X-Fine 40/120 less than 1.5 good for wood, carpet, plastic

Minimum Order:  One pallet in 75lb bags = 3,000 lbs; or One tote bag = 4,000 lbs bulk.  Full van or flatbed loads are usually shipped, but we can ship pallet quantities if necessary (the freight cost per lb dramatically increases if we ship less than a full van or flatbed.)

Packaging:  Bulk (loose), 2 ton supersacks, or smaller 75lb bags/pallet (3,000 lbs/pallet).

Typical Applications for Iron Silicate Copper Slag:

  • Sandblasting, Surface Prep
  • Grinding Wheels (20/50 Medium)
  • Corrosion Cleaning
  • Cement Additive
  • Garment & Textile Blasting
  • Jean & Clothing Sandblasting
  • Offshore oil pipeline blasting
  • Waterjet Cutting Deepsea Structures
  • Roofing Granules - 12/30 for tab shingles, 40/120 for felt and polyester roll roofing 
  • Pipeline Blasting
  • Golf Course Filler - ballast for artificial turf (30/60)
  • Paints and Coatings
  • Blast Cleaning
  • Asphault anti-skid additive (30/60)
  • Slag Wool Insulation

Reclaiming and Profile Details:

  • Sharpshot (R) 12/30 grit can be reclaimed up to 5 times, by adding 15% new into the mix.
  • Sharpshot (R) 12/30 will provide a 4.5 to 5.0 mil profile when blasted at 90-100 psi, with a 45 to 90 degree angle, 18-24" distance to Surface.
  • Sharpshot (R) 20/50 grit can be reclaimed twice.(The first blast as a 20/50, and then the second, reclaimed media will be as a 30/60.)
  • Sharpshot (R) 20/50 will provide 2.5-3.0 mil profile when blasted at 90-100 psi, with a 45 to 90 degree angle, 18-24" distance to Surface.  Many users will blast at an 80 psi in order to get more passes out of the material.
  • 30/60 will provide a 2.0 to 2.5 mils profile when blasted at 90-100 psi, with a 45 to 90 degree angle, 18-24" distance to Surface.  
  • A 3.0 mils profile is possible with 30/60 but only on new steel without any coating.
  • 30/60 grit cannot be reclaimed, it is just too fine.
  • Copper slag abrasive is dense enough to be reclaimed via a Cyclone separator in coarser sizes only.  It has a  115 to 120#'s/cubic foot.  THIS IS A HIGHER DENSITY THAN COAL SLAG (~20% HIGHER)  AND WILL THUS BLAST FASTER THAN COAL SLAG, AND YOU CAN RECLAIM IT A COUPLE OF TIMES AS WELL.  COAL SLAG HAS A LOWER DENSITY OF AROUND 90 #'s/cubic ft.  Copper will therefore result in less product consumption, less disposal cost, and overall, a more cost-effective media to use when compared with garnet, aluminum oxides, or crushed bottle glass.
  • Specific gravity of ~3.4, just a tad below diamond.
  • Copper slag is a hard, cubical, and aggressive sandblasting media.   Contrary to its name it contains almost no copper!
  • Air cooled, not water quenched.  Angular and Aggressive.  **  We do have a slightly less aggressive water cooled copper slag also available.
  • Independent studies have shown it to be the fastest cutting slag abrasive.
  • Enviromentally friendly.
  • Approved for recycling in Portland cement.
  • Best abrasive to use when ranked on cutting speed and cost per sq. ft., according to independent NIOSH tests. 
  • Both arsenic and lead testing is done to the material and is therefore on the United States Naval Qualified  Products list. 
  • California Air Resources Board  (CARB) approved for dry outdoor abrasive blasting.
  • Please email us for a custom freight quotation on this material.   
  • Packaging:  Bulk (loose), 2 ton supersacks, or smaller 75lb bags.
  • Pallet charges will also apply. Shrinkwrapping is available at an additional charge.
  • Email us for custom pricing and multiple truckload prices!