The desire of modern designers for excellence has allowed manufacturers and processors to introduce such a method as sandblasting glass and mirrors. This method is not too complicated and does not require highly skilled workers.
What is sandblasting?
There are a huge number of methods and methods for processing glass. Manufacturers and processors are constantly changing and improving something. One of these methods is the surface treatment of glass with sand, which is fed under high pressure, the so-called sandblasting of glass.
This method was invented almost two centuries ago. While in the desert, the military noticed that after sandstorms on the glass matte traces remain that do not wash and do not disappear with time. Later this method was patented and began to be widely used.
The essence of sandblasting glass is to feed sand under pressure through special nozzles - nozzles - to the surface of the glass blank. As a result, its particles leave small notches on the surface of the product, without completely destroying the format. They use modern equipment to make beautiful designer products and the so-called frosted glass.
Sand glass processing
Sandblasting of glass is carried out on specialized equipment. The work is carried out by specially trained qualified personnel. Glass frosting, as the sand processing operation is sometimes called, consists of several stages, each of which requires the use of special equipment for sandblasting glass.
The first step is to prepare the material before processing. The workpiece is cut according to the dimensions declared by the customer. After cutting it is washed from the remnants of carved oil and glass chips that occur during cutting and breaking.
Now the workpiece is processed on a tape machine. The device consists of two tapes rotating in different directions. During processing on such a machine, a thin layer is removed from the glass edge. As a result, the edge stress arising when cutting glass is reduced. This is done so that when sandblasting the glass, the workpiece does not burst in the machine. Glass is a very fragile material and it is necessary to work with it with utmost care.
After processing on a tape machine, the workpiece is washed again and sent to the machine for sandblasting glass. The operator, before starting processing, selects the intensity and size of the sand fraction, depending on the job and the thickness of the glass, as well as on the size of the workpiece itself.
Passing through the chamber of the sandblasting machine, the glass is gradually treated with sand under pressure. The grains of sand evenly leave incisions on it. Thus, they achieve full coverage of the workpiece with matt risks. In some cases, after processing, the glass is coated with a special composition so that the coating does not get dirty during operation.
Sand Mirror Processing
Sandblasting mirrors is not much different than glass. The workpiece is also cut to a certain size on the side that does not contain amalgam. After cutting carry out a washing from foreign impurities. Work should be done carefully without damaging the coated side. Often, edge processing is performed by a special method - facet, when at a distance of up to 2 cm to the edge of the mirror the thickness of the workpiece is narrowed. This gives the product an aesthetic appearance.
Matting of mirrors is carried out only according to certain patterns described in the task. A film is glued onto the blank, along which a pattern is cut. Full matting of mirrors is not performed - this is pointless. On mirrored surfaces are usually applied a variety of patterns or pictures suitable for interior design.
Advantages and disadvantages
Sandblasting glass has its advantages and disadvantages. The benefits include:
- the ability to apply various types of drawings, the use of color processing;
- durability of use of a covering (it is not exposed to external influences);
- speed of processing (most of the time takes the selection and application of the stencil), usually no more than 15 days;
- the ability to process the coating with modern means that protect against various types of pollution;
- compatibility of types of images with the surrounding interior.
The main disadvantage is the difficulty in training and selecting personnel for working on equipment for sandblasting glass.
Sand Processing Equipment
Machine tools, or as they are called sandblasting chambers, are very easy to operate. They are a vertical machine with a compartment in which processing takes place. Inside it is a conveyor line for stretching the workpiece and vertically running one or two guns with a nozzle made of boron carbide. This alloy is particularly durable.
The sand container is under pressure. Air pressure is regulated depending on processing conditions and glass thickness. Depending on the degree of processing depth, the fraction of grains of sand also changes. The equipment is filled with quartz sand. In some cases, alumina is used.
Application
The price for 1 m 2 of sandblasted glass and mirrors is not very high. This allows you to widely apply this processing method when decorating the interior in apartments and non-residential premises. Frosted glass and mirrors with a pattern are often used in offices and other rooms where full matting of partitions and ceilings is necessary. Modern glass showers are also sandblasted.