Product Guide · May 2026

Aluminum Oxide Blasting Media Suppliers: Grit Sizes, Hardness & Sourcing

Updated: May 2026 ~2,600 words · 10-min read 江蘇恒隆科技有限公司

酸化アルミニウム — chemically Al₂O₃, also known as alumina or corundum — is the second-hardest abrasive material used in industrial blasting, trailing only diamond and cubic boron nitride on the Mohs scale. At Mohs 9, it outlasts garnet, outlasts all slag abrasives by a wide margin, and cuts through materials that slower abrasives cannot address efficiently. For industrial buyers sourcing aluminum oxide blasting media, understanding the difference between brown and white fused grades, selecting the right grit size, and vetting supplier quality claims is essential to getting consistent results.

This guide is part of our broader resource on sandblasting media suppliers and industrial abrasive selection. It covers everything specific to aluminum oxide: product types, grit size tables, application guidance, recyclability data, and sourcing recommendations from Jiangsu Henglihong Technology Co., Ltd.

Mohs 9

Hardness — 2nd only
to diamond & CBN

>95%

Al₂O₃ purity in
brown fused grade

>99%

Al₂O₃ purity in
white fused grade

50–150

Typical reuse cycles
in blast cabinet

1. What Is Aluminum Oxide Blast Media?

Aluminum oxide blast media is produced by fusing bauxite ore (for brown fused alumina) or high-purity alumina powder (for white fused alumina) in an electric arc furnace at temperatures exceeding 2,000°C. The solidified melt is then crushed, screened, and classified into precise grit sizes. The result is a tough, angular abrasive with exceptional hardness, high friability (the tendency to fracture under impact and expose fresh, sharp cutting edges), and near-zero free silica content.

Its combination of high hardness, consistent particle geometry, and chemical inertness makes it suitable for a wide range of demanding applications: thermal spray surface preparation, glass etching, aerospace component stripping, precision deburring, and hard-surface profiling where softer abrasives would wear before achieving adequate cleanliness or profile depth.

2. Brown Fused Alumina vs. White Fused Alumina

Brown Fused Alumina (BFA)

Al₂O₃ content: typically 95–97%
Color: dark brown / gray-brown
Toughness: higher (less friable)
Hardness: Mohs 9 / HV ~1800
Cost: lower (more affordable)
Best for: heavy-duty blasting, rust removal, coating prep on hard metals, glass etching
Iron contamination risk: low (residual iron oxide from bauxite)

White Fused Alumina (WFA)

Al₂O₃ content: typically 99–99.5%
Color: bright white
Toughness: lower (more friable — sharper fracture)
Hardness: Mohs 9+ / HV ~1900–2000
Cost: 30–60% premium over BFA
Best for: stainless steel, titanium, aluminum — surfaces where iron contamination must be avoided; precision finishing
Iron contamination risk: negligible

✅ When to specify WFA over BFA If your workpiece is stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, or any material where embedded iron particles would cause corrosion or interfere with subsequent surface treatment (anodizing, passivation, thermal spray), specify white fused alumina. For carbon steel, structural steel, and hard-surface abrasive profiling, brown fused alumina delivers equivalent performance at lower cost.

3. Grit Size Chart & Typical Profile Depths

FEPA Grit	Particle Size Range (µm)	Typical Profile Depth	Common Use
#12	1700–2360	150–250 µm	Very aggressive profiling, thick coating removal
#16	1180-1700	120–180 µm	Heavy industrial, offshore preparation
#24	710–1180	80–130 µm	Heavy rust removal, hard metals
#36	500-710	60–90 µm	Standard industrial prep, thermal spray substrate
#46	425-600	50–75 µm	General Sa 2.5 preparation
#60	250–425	35–55 µm	Moderate profiling, tool steels
#80	180-250	25–40 µm	Precision profiling, automotive
#120	106–180	15–25 µm	Fine surface finishing, electronics
#150	90-125	10–18 µm	Precision deburring, fine cleaning
#220	63-90	6–12 µm	Lapping, glass etching, ultra-fine finishing
#280	45–75	4–8 µm	Precision optics, semiconductor components

4. Key Applications

Thermal Spray & HVOF Substrate Preparation

Thermal spray coatings — including HVOF, plasma spray, and arc spray — require a very aggressive, clean anchor profile, typically Rz 50–150 µm, achieved immediately before spraying (within 4 hours to prevent oxidation). BFA #24–#36 at high blast pressure delivers the required profile on tool steels, carbide substrates, and hard metals without introducing iron contamination from metallic abrasives. This is one of the primary industrial applications driving demand for aluminum oxide blast media globally.

Stainless Steel & Non-Ferrous Metal Preparation

Stainless steel components that will be passivated, electropolished, or used in food-grade or pharmaceutical environments must not be contaminated with embedded iron particles. White fused alumina is the universal standard for blasting these substrates. After blasting with WFA, the passivation layer reforms cleanly and the surface maintains its corrosion resistance.

Glass Etching & Decorative Finishing

BFA #80–#220 is widely used for etching glass, ceramic tile, and stone in signage, architectural glass, and trophy manufacturing. The sharp, consistent particle geometry produces clean, uniform matte finishes. Finer grits produce more uniform, less aggressive textures.

Aerospace Component Stripping

For stripping paint, anodize, or corrosion-resistant coatings from aluminum airframe components, WFA in a controlled blast cabinet with precisely regulated pressure is the standard approach where substrate dimensional tolerance is critical. The non-ferrous nature of the abrasive eliminates contamination risk.

Precision Deburring

BFA #120–#220 in vibratory or tumblast systems removes sharp edges (burrs) from machined metal parts, castings, and stamped components without dimensional impact on finished surfaces. The hardness ensures consistent, repeatable results across high production volumes.

5. Recyclability & Cost-Per-Cycle

Aluminum oxide is significantly more recyclable than mineral abrasives (slag, garnet) but less recyclable than steel abrasives. In a properly maintained blast cabinet with effective dust collection and classifier:

BFA: 50–150 cycles before media is fully consumed by attrition to fines
WFA: 30–100 cycles (WFA is more friable — breaks down faster but cuts more aggressively per pass)

For a full cost-per-cycle comparison between aluminum oxide, steel grit, garnet, and single-use slag abrasives, see our dedicated analysis: Reusable vs. Single-Use Blast Media: Cost-Per-Cycle Analysis.

6. Quality Specifications to Request from Suppliers

パラメータ	BFA Specification	WFA Specification	Test Method
Al₂O₃ content	≥95.0%	≥99.0%	XRF / wet chemical
Fe₂O₃ content	≤0.5%	≤0.1%	XRF
SiO₂ content	≤1.5%	≤0.1%	XRF
Free silica (SiO₂ crystalline)	<1.0% (OSHA limit)	<0.1%	XRD
Mohs hardness	≥9.0	≥9.0	Mohs scale
Moisture content	<0.5%	<0.3%	ASTM E1252
粒度分布	Per FEPA 42-1:2006	Per FEPA 42-1:2006	Laser diffraction / sieve

7. Sourcing & Pricing Benchmarks (May 2026)

China is the world’s largest producer of both brown and white fused alumina, accounting for over 70% of global supply. Prices are influenced heavily by electricity costs (electric arc furnace processing is energy-intensive), bauxite quality, and export market demand. The following ranges reflect FOB China pricing from ISO 9001-certified manufacturers as of May 2026:

製品	Grit Range	FOB Price (USD/MT)	Standard Packaging
Brown Fused Alumina (BFA)	#12–#36 (coarse)	$580–$750	25 kg bags / 1 MT big bags
Brown Fused Alumina (BFA)	#46–#120 (medium)	$620–$820	25 kg bags / 1 MT big bags
Brown Fused Alumina (BFA)	#150–#280 (fine)	$700–$950	25 kg bags
White Fused Alumina (WFA)	#36–#120	$900–$1,250	25 kg bags / 1 MT big bags
White Fused Alumina (WFA)	#150–#280	$1,100–$1,600	25 kg bags

For detailed guidance on comparing landed-cost quotations from multiple overseas suppliers, see our procurement guide: China vs. USA Sandblasting Media Suppliers: Quality, Lead Time & Cost Reality.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use aluminum oxide in an open-air blast pot?

Yes, aluminum oxide can be used in pressure blast pots for open-air blasting, but it is most economical in enclosed blast cabinets or blast rooms where the media can be recovered and recycled. Used as a once-through abrasive in open-air applications, aluminum oxide’s higher unit cost compared to coal slag makes the economics unfavorable unless contamination-free blasting or a specific surface requirement justifies the cost. Always ensure workers have appropriate supplied-air respiratory protection.

Does aluminum oxide leave contamination on stainless steel?

Brown fused alumina contains trace amounts of iron oxide (Fe₂O₃, typically <0.5%) from the bauxite feedstock, which can leave minor surface contamination visible as reddish spots after acid-cleaning or passivation. For critical stainless steel applications, white fused alumina (WFA) with Fe₂O₃ <0.1% is the correct specification. Aluminum oxide in general — both BFA and WFA — is far less contaminating than any iron-based abrasive (steel grit, steel shot, or slag abrasives).

Is aluminum oxide OSHA-compliant for sandblasting?

Yes. Aluminum oxide blast media contains no significant crystalline silica — free silica content is typically below 1% for BFA and below 0.1% for WFA. It is fully OSHA-compliant as a blasting abrasive. However, aluminum oxide dust does require appropriate respiratory protection (supplied-air respirator) per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.94, as all airborne particulate exposure must be controlled to within permissible limits regardless of silica content.

Request Aluminum Oxide Samples & Pricing

Specify your required grade (BFA or WFA), grit size, and application. Jiangsu Henglihong Technology Co., Ltd. provides certified sample shipments and competitive FOB quotations within 24 hours.

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