{"id":13660,"date":"2026-07-15T01:58:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T01:58:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/?p=13660"},"modified":"2026-07-15T02:04:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T02:04:09","slug":"abrasive-blasting-cobalt-chrome-aluminum-medical-components-surface-preparation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/es\/resource\/blog\/abrasive-blasting-cobalt-chrome-aluminum-medical-components-surface-preparation\/","title":{"rendered":"Abrasive Blasting Cobalt-Chrome and Aluminum Alloy Medical Components: Surface Preparation Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n    \"@graph\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n            \"headline\": \"Abrasive Blasting Cobalt-Chrome and Aluminum Alloy Medical Components: Surface Preparation Guide\",\n            \"description\": \"Technical guide to abrasive blasting of cobalt-chromium alloy orthopedic components and aluminum alloy medical device parts \\u2014 material properties, blasting parameters, cross-contamination risks, and surface preparation for bone contact and protective coatings.\",\n            \"datePublished\": \"2026-07-13\",\n            \"dateModified\": \"2026-07-13\",\n            \"author\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"name\": \"Jiangsu Henglihong Technology Co., Ltd.\",\n                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/hlh-js.com\\\/\"\n            },\n            \"publisher\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"name\": \"Jiangsu Henglihong Technology Co., Ltd.\",\n                \"logo\": {\n                    \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/hlh-js.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/hlh-logo.png\"\n                }\n            },\n            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n                \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/hlh-js.com\\\/resource\\\/blog\\\/abrasive-blasting-cobalt-chrome-aluminum-medical-components-surface-preparation\\\/\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n            \"mainEntity\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Can cobalt-chrome orthopedic components be abrasive blasted?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Yes. Cobalt-chromium alloy (CoCr) orthopedic components are abrasive blasted for specific purposes: deburring after machining, surface roughening on bone-contact zones of tibial trays and femoral component chamfers, and surface preparation before plasma spray or HA coating. However, CoCr articulating surfaces (femoral condyles, femoral heads) must NOT be blasted \\u2014 these require mirror polishing to Ra below 0.05 \\u03bcm for acceptable wear performance. The blasting parameters for CoCr are more aggressive than for titanium because CoCr is significantly harder (Rockwell C 25\\u201340 depending on alloy and condition).\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"What blasting media is appropriate for cobalt-chrome implants?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Aluminum oxide (250\\u2013500 \\u03bcm) at 4\\u20136 bar is appropriate for CoCr implant surface roughening. The harder CoCr substrate requires higher pressure than titanium to achieve equivalent Ra. Glass beads are used on non-bone-contact CoCr surfaces requiring matte finish. A critical contamination concern is cross-contamination between CoCr and titanium components if they share a blast cabinet: cobalt and chromium particles from CoCr blasting can deposit on titanium implants in subsequent processing cycles and create galvanic corrosion sites. Dedicated blast cabinets for each alloy type, or rigorous cabinet cleaning between alloy changes, are required.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"What aluminum alloys are used in medical devices and how are they blasted?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"The most common aluminum alloys in medical devices are 6061-T6 (general purpose housings, structural components), 7075-T6 (high-strength frames, imaging equipment), and 2024-T3 (aerospace-grade structural components in surgical robotics). All are blasted with glass beads (#10\\u2013#12) at 1.5\\u20132.5 bar before anodizing. Aluminum alloys are soft and respond quickly to blasting \\u2014 over-blasting with excessive pressure or too-coarse media creates an excessively rough surface that may anodize unevenly. The alloy grade affects the anodize behavior: 7075 and 2024 alloys contain copper and zinc precipitates that can create visual imperfections in anodize layers if not properly controlled.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Why must CoCr and titanium components be blasted in separate equipment?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Cross-contamination between cobalt-chromium and titanium implant components creates a clinically significant risk. Cobalt, chromium, and molybdenum particles from CoCr blasting that deposit on titanium implant surfaces can create galvanic couples where the dissimilar metals contact each other in physiological fluid, accelerating corrosion of the titanium oxide layer. CoCr particles embedded in titanium surfaces are also non-biocompatible in the context of a titanium implant system. Dedicated blast cabinets, separate media stocks, and verified cleaning protocols between alloy types are the accepted controls in regulated medical device manufacturing environments.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"What surface finish is required on CoCr articulating surfaces?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"CoCr articulating surfaces \\u2014 femoral heads for total hip replacement, femoral condyles for total knee replacement \\u2014 require mirror polishing to Ra below 0.05 \\u03bcm (typically 0.01\\u20130.03 \\u03bcm Ra). This ultra-smooth finish minimizes wear of the articulating counterpart (UHMWPE, ceramic, or opposing CoCr in metal-on-metal designs) and reduces third-body wear particle generation. Abrasive blasting is categorically excluded from articulating surface processing \\u2014 it is used only on non-articulating bone-contact surfaces and external housing areas of CoCr implant components.\"\n                    }\n                }\n            ]\n        }\n    ]\n}<\/script> <style>\r\n.hlh-coa*,.hlh-coa*::before,.hlh-coa*::after{box-sizing:border-box;margin:0;padding:0}\r\n.hlh-coa{font-family:'Segoe UI',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;line-height:1.78;color:#1e2a38;max-width:860px;margin:0 auto;padding:0 20px 64px}\r\n.hlh-coa h1{font-size:clamp(1.65rem,3.5vw,2.2rem);font-weight:800;color:#1a3456;line-height:1.22;margin-bottom:20px}\r\n.hlh-coa h2{font-size:clamp(1.18rem,2.5vw,1.46rem);font-weight:700;color:#1a3456;border-left:4px solid #d86e18;padding-left:14px;margin:50px 0 16px}\r\n.hlh-coa h3{font-size:1.05rem;font-weight:700;color:#1a3456;margin:28px 0 10px}\r\n.hlh-coa p{margin-bottom:16px}\r\n.hlh-coa ul,.hlh-coa 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href=\"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/resource\/blog\/abrasive-blasting-surface-treatment-medical-devices\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u2190 Abrasive Blasting for Medical Devices: Complete Guide<\/a>\r\n<h1>Abrasive Blasting Cobalt-Chrome and Aluminum Alloy Medical Components: Surface Preparation Guide<\/h1>\r\n<div class=\"hlh-coa-hero\">\r\n<div class=\"hlh-coa-hero-tag\">In-Depth Guide \u00b7 Medical Device Series \u00b7 C08<\/div>\r\n<p>Cobalt-chromium alloys and aluminum alloys occupy very different roles in medical device manufacturing \u2014 CoCr is the material of choice for high-load orthopedic articulating components and cardiovascular structural parts, while aluminum alloys form the structural enclosures and frames of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment. Both materials benefit from abrasive blasting, but in very different ways and with very different constraints. This guide covers the blasting process requirements specific to each material, the critical surface zones that must never be blasted, and the cross-contamination risks that make equipment segregation mandatory in regulated manufacturing environments.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<nav class=\"hlh-coa-toc\" aria-label=\"\u00cdndice\">\r\n<div class=\"hlh-coa-toc-label\">Table of Contents<\/div>\r\n<ol>\r\n<li><a href=\"#coa-cocr\">CoCr Alloys in Orthopedic Implants: Properties and Surface Requirements<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#coa-blast-cocr\">Blasting CoCr Components: Applications and Exclusions<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#coa-params-cocr\">Process Parameters for CoCr Blasting<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#coa-contamination\">Cross-Contamination Risks: CoCr and Titanium<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#coa-aluminum\">Aluminum Alloy Medical Components<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#coa-params-al\">Blasting Parameters and Anodize Considerations for Aluminum Alloys<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"#coa-faq\">Preguntas frecuentes<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/nav>\r\n<h2 id=\"coa-cocr\">1. CoCr Alloys in Orthopedic Implants: Properties and Surface Requirements<\/h2>\r\n<div class=\"hlh-coa-table-wrap\">\r\n<table class=\"hlh-coa-table\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>Alloy<\/th>\r\n<th>Standard<\/th>\r\n<th>Condition<\/th>\r\n<th>UTS (MPa)<\/th>\r\n<th>Hardness (HRC)<\/th>\r\n<th>Primary Application<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>CoCr28Mo6 (F75)<\/td>\r\n<td>ASTM F75<\/td>\r\n<td>As-cast<\/td>\r\n<td>655\u2013820<\/td>\r\n<td>25\u201335<\/td>\r\n<td>Femoral heads, acetabular shells, some knee components<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>CoCrMo (F799)<\/td>\r\n<td>ASTM F799<\/td>\r\n<td>Wrought, hot forged<\/td>\r\n<td>1172\u20131310<\/td>\r\n<td>35\u201342<\/td>\r\n<td>Knee femoral components, tibial stems, spinal rods<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>CoNiCrMo (MP35N)<\/td>\r\n<td>ASTM F562<\/td>\r\n<td>Cold worked + aged<\/td>\r\n<td>1790\u20132068<\/td>\r\n<td>50+<\/td>\r\n<td>Highly loaded small components, cardiovascular cables<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<p>CoCr alloys are significantly harder than titanium alloys (CoCr F75 at HRC 25\u201335 versus Ti-6Al-4V at approximately HRC 30\u201336, but with different cutting resistance) and wear alloys. Their wear resistance and hardness make them ideal for articulating bearing surfaces in hip and knee replacements. However, this same hardness means blasting CoCr requires higher impact energy than titanium to achieve equivalent surface modification \u2014 higher pressure, harder media, or coarser particle size.<\/p>\r\n<p>The defining surface feature of CoCr orthopedic components is the <strong>sharp distinction between articulating and non-articulating surfaces<\/strong>. This distinction is absolute and must never be violated by blasting:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Articulating surfaces<\/strong> (femoral head spherical surface, femoral condyle bearing surfaces, acetabular liner mating surface): mirror-polished to Ra &lt; 0.05 \u03bcm. Any abrasive blasting on these surfaces is a manufacturing non-conformance requiring scrap of the component.<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Non-articulating surfaces<\/strong> (bone-contact chamfers, stem taper, tibial stem, housing areas): may be blasted for bone-contact roughening or pre-coating surface preparation.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"coa-blast-cocr\">2. Blasting CoCr Components: Applications and Exclusions<\/h2>\r\n<p>Abrasive blasting is applied to CoCr orthopedic components in three specific scenarios, each with distinct functional objectives:<\/p>\r\n<h3>Bone-Contact Zone Roughening (Tibial Trays, Femoral Component Chamfers)<\/h3>\r\n<p>The bone-contact undersurface of CoCr tibial trays and the anterior chamfer and posterior condyle bone-cut surfaces of CoCr femoral components are blasted to create Ra 1.5\u20133.0 \u03bcm to promote cement interlocking or direct bone contact. For cemented designs, the blasted surface creates mechanical keying for bone cement (PMMA acrylic). For cementless designs, the blasted surface is followed by plasma spray coating. Al\u2082O\u2083 blasting at 4\u20136 bar with 250\u2013500 \u03bcm particles achieves the required Ra on the harder CoCr substrate.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Deburring After Machining<\/h3>\r\n<p>CoCr components require deburring after machining to remove sharp edges and burrs that could cut into adjacent UHMWPE bearing liners, generate metallic wear particles, or present patient safety risks during handling. Glass bead blasting at 2.5\u20134 bar or fine aluminum oxide at 3\u20134 bar is used for this purpose on non-articulating surfaces, with masking of all articulating surfaces before any blasting operation.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Pre-Coating Surface Preparation<\/h3>\r\n<p>CoCr femoral stems and acetabular shells that receive plasma spray titanium or hydroxyapatite coating are blasted before coating to create the Ra 3\u20136 \u03bcm substrate roughness required for coating adhesion. This is analogous to the titanium implant pre-HA-coating blasting process but requires higher blast energy due to CoCr&#8217;s greater hardness.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"hlh-coa-warn\"><strong>\u26a0 Absolute exclusion zones:<\/strong> Mirror-polished CoCr femoral head spheres and condylar surfaces must be completely masked or physically protected before blasting any other area of the same component. Even a single abrasive particle striking an articulating surface creates Ra damage that cannot be corrected except by complete re-polishing \u2014 adding significant cost and risk of dimensional non-conformance. Components with exposed articulating surfaces should not enter a blast cabinet under any circumstances.<\/div>\r\n<h2 id=\"coa-params-cocr\">3. Process Parameters for CoCr Blasting<\/h2>\r\n<div class=\"hlh-coa-table-wrap\">\r\n<table class=\"hlh-coa-table\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>CoCr Application<\/th>\r\n<th>Media<\/th>\r\n<th>Tama\u00f1o de las part\u00edculas<\/th>\r\n<th>Pressure<\/th>\r\n<th>Target Ra<\/th>\r\n<th>Notes<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Bone-contact zone roughening<\/td>\r\n<td>Al\u2082O\u2083<\/td>\r\n<td>250\u2013500 \u03bcm<\/td>\r\n<td>4\u20136 bar<\/td>\r\n<td>1.5\u20133.0 \u03bcm<\/td>\r\n<td>Articulating surfaces masked; post-blast cleaning critical<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Deburring (body\/stems)<\/td>\r\n<td>Al\u2082O\u2083 or glass beads #8<\/td>\r\n<td>150\u2013300 \u03bcm<\/td>\r\n<td>3\u20134.5 bar<\/td>\r\n<td>1.0\u20132.0 \u03bcm<\/td>\r\n<td>Must not reach articulating surfaces<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Pre-plasma-spray preparation<\/td>\r\n<td>Al\u2082O\u2083<\/td>\r\n<td>250\u2013600 \u03bcm<\/td>\r\n<td>4\u20137 bar<\/td>\r\n<td>3\u20136 \u03bcm<\/td>\r\n<td>Maximum Ra needed for plasma spray adhesion<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Matte finish (non-contact areas)<\/td>\r\n<td>Glass beads #10\u2013#12<\/td>\r\n<td>75\u2013177 \u03bcm<\/td>\r\n<td>2.5\u20133.5 bar<\/td>\r\n<td>0.6\u20131.2 \u03bcm<\/td>\r\n<td>External non-bearing surfaces; aesthetic finish<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2 id=\"coa-contamination\">4. Cross-Contamination Risks: CoCr and Titanium<\/h2>\r\n<p>When CoCr and titanium implant components are processed in the same blast cabinet \u2014 even at different times \u2014 cross-contamination between the two alloy systems creates serious quality and biocompatibility risks.<\/p>\r\n<p>CoCr blasting generates particulate contamination consisting of cobalt, chromium, and molybdenum particles and fragments. These particles deposit on cabinet walls, fixtures, and any subsequent components processed in the same cabinet. Titanium implants processed after CoCr in a contaminated cabinet may have CoCr particles embedded in their blasted surfaces. In the implant environment, these dissimilar metal inclusions create micro-galvanic cells that can accelerate corrosion of the titanium oxide layer at the inclusion sites, and cobalt and chromium ions released from corroding particles are toxic in high concentrations.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"hlh-coa-callout\"><strong>Industry practice:<\/strong> Regulated orthopedic implant manufacturers maintain physically separate blast cabinets for CoCr and titanium components, with dedicated media stocks for each alloy type. If shared equipment must be used, a validated decontamination procedure (media change + cabinet cleaning + verification coupon) must be performed between alloy types and the cleaning effectiveness must be demonstrated in process validation.<\/div>\r\n<h2 id=\"coa-aluminum\">5. Aluminum Alloy Medical Components<\/h2>\r\n<p>Aluminum alloys are used extensively in medical device manufacturing for non-implant structural applications: equipment housings, imaging system gantries, surgical table frames, robotic arm structures, and instrument storage systems. The choice of aluminum alloy for a given application depends on the required strength-to-weight ratio, machinability, and anodize behavior.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"hlh-coa-table-wrap\">\r\n<table class=\"hlh-coa-table\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>Alloy<\/th>\r\n<th>Temper<\/th>\r\n<th>UTS (MPa)<\/th>\r\n<th>Key Properties<\/th>\r\n<th>Medical Applications<\/th>\r\n<th>Blasting Note<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>6061<\/td>\r\n<td>T6<\/td>\r\n<td>310<\/td>\r\n<td>Good machinability, excellent anodize, moderate strength<\/td>\r\n<td>General housings, brackets, frames, monitor stands<\/td>\r\n<td>Standard #10\u2013#12 glass beads; most forgiving<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>7075<\/td>\r\n<td>T6<\/td>\r\n<td>572<\/td>\r\n<td>Highest strength; more sensitive anodize due to Zn\/Cu precipitates<\/td>\r\n<td>High-strength structural frames, imaging gantry sections<\/td>\r\n<td>Fine media, lower pressure; Zn\/Cu precipitates can cause streaking in anodize if surface prep inadequate<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>2024<\/td>\r\n<td>T3<\/td>\r\n<td>483<\/td>\r\n<td>High strength; lower corrosion resistance due to Cu content<\/td>\r\n<td>Aerospace-derived surgical robotics structural components<\/td>\r\n<td>Careful pre-anodize prep; copper precipitates affect anodize; Type II preferred over Type III<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>5052<\/td>\r\n<td>H32<\/td>\r\n<td>228<\/td>\r\n<td>Excellent corrosion resistance; good formability<\/td>\r\n<td>Thin-walled enclosures, sheet metal covers<\/td>\r\n<td>Low pressure required for thin gauge; glass beads #12<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2 id=\"coa-params-al\">6. Blasting Parameters and Anodize Considerations for Aluminum Alloys<\/h2>\r\n<p>Aluminum alloys are significantly softer than both CoCr and titanium, requiring much lower blasting pressures to achieve the same Ra. The primary risk with aluminum blasting is over-blasting: excessive pressure or too-coarse media creates a surface too rough for uniform anodize penetration, leading to a porous, non-uniform anodize layer that provides inadequate corrosion protection.<\/p>\r\n<p>The 7075 and 2024 alloys present specific challenges for anodizing that are influenced by pre-blast surface condition. Both alloys contain second-phase precipitates rich in zinc\/magnesium (7075) or copper (2024) that dissolve preferentially during anodizing, creating pits in the anodize layer. Glass bead blasting creates a uniform surface condition that minimizes these effects by mechanically disrupting the precipitate-enriched surface zone and creating a homogeneous starting surface for the anodize bath. However, these alloys typically require Type II rather than Type III anodize for best results \u2014 the thick, slow-growing hard anodize layer of Type III is more sensitive to precipitate-related defects than the thinner, faster Type II layer.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"hlh-coa-related\">\r\n<h3>Related Guides in This Series<\/h3>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/resource\/blog\/abrasive-blasting-orthopedic-implants-bone-ingrowth-surface-preparation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u2192 Abrasive Blasting for Orthopedic Implants<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/resource\/blog\/abrasive-blasting-medical-device-housings-pre-anodize-coating-preparation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u2192 Medical Device Housings: Pre-Anodize Blasting Guide<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/resource\/blog\/abrasive-blasting-surface-treatment-medical-devices\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u2190 Complete Guide: Abrasive Blasting for Medical Devices<\/a><\/div>\r\n<h2 id=\"coa-faq\">7. Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"hlh-coa-faq-item\"><button class=\"hlh-coa-faq-btn\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"coq1\">Can cobalt-chrome orthopedic components be abrasive blasted?<span class=\"hlh-coa-faq-icon\">+<\/span><\/button>\r\n<div id=\"coq1\" class=\"hlh-coa-faq-answer\">\r\n<p>Yes, on non-articulating surfaces only. CoCr components are blasted for bone-contact zone roughening (tibial trays, femoral component bone-cut surfaces), deburring after machining, and pre-coating preparation for plasma spray. Articulating surfaces (femoral heads, condylar bearing surfaces) must be completely masked before any blasting \u2014 these require mirror polishing to Ra below 0.05 \u03bcm and cannot be re-polished to spec after abrasive contact without significant rework risk.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"hlh-coa-faq-item\"><button class=\"hlh-coa-faq-btn\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"coq2\">What blasting media is appropriate for cobalt-chrome implants?<span class=\"hlh-coa-faq-icon\">+<\/span><\/button>\r\n<div id=\"coq2\" class=\"hlh-coa-faq-answer\">\r\n<p>Aluminum oxide (250\u2013500 \u03bcm) at 4\u20136 bar for roughening and deburring; glass beads (#10\u2013#12) at 2.5\u20133.5 bar for matte finishing. CoCr&#8217;s greater hardness than titanium requires higher pressure. Cross-contamination between CoCr and titanium blast cabinets is a serious biocompatibility concern \u2014 dedicated blast equipment for each alloy type is required in regulated manufacturing.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"hlh-coa-faq-item\"><button class=\"hlh-coa-faq-btn\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"coq3\">What aluminum alloys are used in medical devices?<span class=\"hlh-coa-faq-icon\">+<\/span><\/button>\r\n<div id=\"coq3\" class=\"hlh-coa-faq-answer\">\r\n<p>6061-T6 (most common; equipment housings, brackets, frames), 7075-T6 (high-strength structural components; imaging gantries), 2024-T3 (surgical robotics), and 5052-H32 (thin-walled sheet metal enclosures). All are blasted with glass beads (#10\u2013#12, 1.5\u20132.5 bar) before anodizing. 7075 and 2024 contain precipitates that affect anodize quality and require careful pre-blast surface preparation.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"hlh-coa-faq-item\"><button class=\"hlh-coa-faq-btn\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"coq4\">Why must CoCr and titanium components be blasted in separate equipment?<span class=\"hlh-coa-faq-icon\">+<\/span><\/button>\r\n<div id=\"coq4\" class=\"hlh-coa-faq-answer\">\r\n<p>CoCr blasting generates Co, Cr, and Mo particles that deposit in the blast cabinet. Titanium components subsequently processed in the same cabinet may acquire CoCr particle inclusions that create galvanic corrosion sites in the implant environment. Co and Cr ion release from corroding inclusions raises toxicity concerns. Dedicated blast cabinets with separate media stocks for each alloy type are standard practice in regulated orthopedic implant manufacturing.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"hlh-coa-faq-item\"><button class=\"hlh-coa-faq-btn\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"coq5\">What surface finish is required on CoCr articulating surfaces?<span class=\"hlh-coa-faq-icon\">+<\/span><\/button>\r\n<div id=\"coq5\" class=\"hlh-coa-faq-answer\">\r\n<p>Mirror polishing to Ra below 0.05 \u03bcm (typically 0.01\u20130.03 \u03bcm Ra) is required for CoCr articulating surfaces. This minimizes wear of opposing UHMWPE, ceramic, or CoCr surfaces and reduces third-body wear particle generation. Abrasive blasting is categorically excluded from all articulating surface processing and is used only on non-articulating bone-contact and external housing surfaces of CoCr implant components.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"hlh-coa-cta\">\r\n<h2>Source Blasting Media for CoCr and Aluminum Medical Component Processing<\/h2>\r\n<p>Jiangsu Henglihong Technology supplies aluminum oxide and glass beads for medical component blasting with full documentation for ISO 13485 process validation and biocompatibility compliance.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Request Technical Data &amp; Quote<\/a><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<p><script>(function(){var b=document.querySelectorAll('.hlh-coa-faq-btn');b.forEach(function(btn){btn.addEventListener('click',function(){var e=this.getAttribute('aria-expanded')==='true',a=document.getElementById(this.getAttribute('aria-controls'));b.forEach(function(x){x.setAttribute('aria-expanded','false');var y=document.getElementById(x.getAttribute('aria-controls'));if(y)y.style.maxHeight='0'});if(!e){this.setAttribute('aria-expanded','true');a.style.maxHeight=a.scrollHeight+'px'}})})})();<\/script><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u2190 Abrasive Blasting for Medical Devices: Complete Guide Abrasive Blasting  [&#8230;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13662,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[62,175,138],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13660","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-industry","category-resource"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13660","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13660"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13660\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13687,"href":"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13660\/revisions\/13687"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13660"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13660"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hlh-js.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}