SandBLASTING

Submitted to:Dr. Senthil K.

Submitted by:Soumya GuptaMF-Tech II (07)

What is Sandblasting..??Sand blasting technique is based on blasting

an abrasive material in granular, powdered or other form through a nozzle at very high speed and pressure onto specific areas of the garment surface to be treated to give the desired distressed/ abraded/used look.

It is purely mechanical process, not using any chemicals. It is a water free process therefore no drying required.

Any number of designs could be created by special techniques

Used to obtain localized abrasion effect.Sandblasting can be done on denim, canvas,

twill & sometimes on corduroy fabrics.

The Process of SandblastingSandblasting is a manually done

mechanical processThe abrasive material is filled in the

supply container, which is connected with the high pressure nozzle with the help of a tube.

This abrasive material is guided manually through the nozzle, with the help of a gun, at the areas where the desired effect is to be obtained.

This operation requires skilled labor

Contd..Sandblasting is a hazardous process.The gun has a switch to start & stop the flow of the abrasive

material.Garments to be sandblasted are placed on the bed of a closed

chamber.Garments are instantly faded by the frictional effect of the

abrasive material.Sandblasting area is isolated from other production area.The handling of sandblasting gun is a risky process.The blowing angle is very important.Production/ hour/ gun varies from 25-50 garments depending

upon the area to be faded.Wearing protective gear during this process is very important

from the point of view of health & safety of the operator.

3 Important Parameters that Guide SandblastingAbrasive blast materialSandblasting nozzlesSandblasting accessories to ensure health &

safety

Abrasive Blast MaterialSandAluminum OxideChilled Iron GritSteel GritChilled Iron ShotsSteel ShotsSteel Cut WirePlastic Grit-Acrylic &

UreaNylon ShotsGlass Beads

*Aluminum oxide is the most commonly used abrasive material for sandblasting of garments

Sandblasting NozzlesAvailable in Boron Carbide & Titanium Carbide

Sandblasting AccessoriesAir-fed Helmets • Body suits & gloves

Sandblasting CabinetCabinet Specially Developed for DenimA sand blasting machine to abrade garments for

simulating natural wear patterns has been designed. Localized abrasion is a form of sand blasting for localizing the abraded look on a particular area of the garment. Abrasive blasting cabinet is where the operator stands in front of the cabinet and manually operates the blast gun through rubber vestibules inside the cabinet. The jeans are placed inside the cabinet. The grit recovery and dust collection is automatic

Why is Sandblasting Hazardous..??About Sandblasting:Although the sandblasting technique has been applied widely in the textile

supply chain. Recently, a lot of attention has been paid to the potential dangers of sandblasting.

In the process of sandblasting, jeans are sprayed with sand to create a used and old look in specific areas of the garment.

Sand contains the mineral silica, which can cause silicosis in the lungs if workers inhale the dust.

Silicosis is an incurable lung disease caused by inhalation of dust containing free crystalline silica.

In many European countries, the use of abrasive material containing crystalline silica is already prohibited (in most cases, a maximum of 1% silica is set).

As of April 2009, a legal ban on sandblasting is in place in Turkey, following an announcement that 40 workers died from silicosis. In many other textile sourcing countries, sandblasting is unregulated.

The Business Social Compliance (BSCI) Initiative:A management system is in place to ensure and regularly

check employees’ safety. Clear instructions and training are given to employees on

handling machinery and hazardous materials. Only authorized and qualified staff are allowed to handle

hazardous materials The good condition of Personal Protective Equipment

(PPE) is ensured and the use thereof is enforced. Signs and warnings are posted in corresponding areas

and on machinery reminding employees to wear PPE. Countries where sandblasting is permitted are

Bangladesh, Egypt, China, Turkey, Brazil and Mexico.

Use of Safer Abrasive MaterialsAluminum Oxide is widely used due to the minimal

crystalline Silica content (1.2%) thus replacing silica sand for safety and environmental reasons.

It is ideal for sand blasting for Denim fabric because of less iron content, hence causes less damage to the fabric.

Aluminum oxide is made from bauxite. Mixture of bauxite is electrically fused at high temperature in an arc furnace and Aluminum oxide is thus produced. Aluminum oxide has brown color, high hardness and great toughness.

It looks like sand and are very sharp, hard & fine which leads to effective sandblasting.

*Advancement: EFFECTS OF SAND BLASTING WITH INDUSTRIAL ENZYME SILICON WASH ON DENIM APPAREL CHARACTERISTICS

The aim of this paper is to determine the effects of sand blasting with industrial enzyme silicon wash on denim apparel characteristics.

Evaluation on the basis of changes of fabric handle, fabric specification (ends/inch, picks/inch, surface density, warp & weft yarn linear density), fabric strength, seam strength & fabric stiffness has been determined after sandblasting with enzyme silicon wash.

ProcessSand blasting is a modern technique applied on

specific portions of indigo dyed denim apparel with using special type of sands.

These sands are sprayed on the selected portions of apparel at high pressure.

Sand removes color from those specific portions of the apparel and creates fashionable outlooks.

After Sand blasting the apparel is washed with enzyme and silicon softener. Silicon softener is used to increase the softness of the apparel.

PurposeEnvironmentally friendly fully biodegradable Enzymes that are non-

toxic in nature would replace a number of mechanical and chemical operations by Enzymatic treatment.

Improves fabric quality, comfort, fabric handle and other valuable properties.

To get a cleaner fabric surface with less fuzz, to reduce tendency to pill formation, to smooth the surface combining with traditional softeners.

Fabric handle can be influenced by using softener which is analyzed in the research work.

Sandblasting takes care of several drawbacks of Stone washing like removing the residual pumice stones from the processed fabric, damage to the equipment due to overloaded tumbling stones, clogging machine drainage passages, drainage and sewer lines at the machine site.

ConclusionAfter sandblasting and enzyme silicon wash the denim

fabric changed from harsh to softer.Due to abrasion damage ends/inch and picks/inch of

denim fabric has been decreased as a result surface density of fabric increased.

Again tensile strength of fabric and seam strength of trouser has been decreased due to enzyme washing with sandblasting.

Stiffness of denim fabric has been decreased after silicon wash which results the increase of denim fabric softness.

Curtains down..