May 7, 2025

Additive Manufacturing (AM), especially 3D printing technologies such as SLS, SLA, and MJF, is redefining how industries create complex, lightweight, and customized components. However, the full value of these advanced methods can only be realized with equally advanced post-processing techniques.

Enter polystyrene blasting beads—a game-changing media offering a perfect blend of gentleness, consistency, and eco-efficiency. At Jiangsu Henglihong Technology Co., Ltd., we have conducted extensive research into how these beads enhance surface finishing in AM workflows, ensuring better product performance, aesthetics, and durability.

Polystyrene blasting beads are lightweight, semi-rigid, and thermoplastic-based, engineered specifically for sensitive or intricate post-processing needs. Unlike harder abrasives, these beads clean and refine without compromising structural details.

• Mohs Hardness: ~2.5 (soft yet effective)
• Bulk Density: ~0.3–0.4 g/cm³
• Particle Size Range: 0.3–1.5 mm
• Geometry: Precision-formed spherical/semi-spherical beads

• ✔️ Non-aggressive cleaning for fragile geometries
• ✔️ High dimensional fidelity preservation
• ✔️ Effective removal of residual powders and support material
• ✔️ Anti-static properties reduce surface dust adhesion
• ✔️ Fully recyclable and eco-safe

• Efficient powder removal from deep cavities and porous surfaces
• Maintains sharp edges and design details without wear

• Delivers a uniform, non-reflective finish
• Prepares parts for secondary coloring or coating steps

• Smooths visible layer lines
• Ideal for customer-facing prototypes and decorative parts

• Safely removes uncured resin residue
• Reduces micro-cracks and preserves fine features

• Prepares clean, adhesion-optimized surfaces for coloring, plating, or vapor smoothing

We conducted controlled lab tests and pilot runs in AM workshops to evaluate performance:

Insight: In most polymer-based and delicate AM parts, polystyrene beads provide optimal finishing results with minimal wear, especially when appearance and detail preservation matter most.

Polystyrene blasting beads are not only gentle on parts—they’re easy on the planet and your budget too.

• Reusable across 15–20 blast cycles without performance loss
• Non-toxic and silica-free, reducing occupational hazards
• Low noise and low heat during operation
• Works with standard blasting equipment, no retrofitting needed
• Low energy input due to reduced air pressure requirements

• Recommended Pressure: 0.3–0.6 MPa (low pressure, consistent finish)
• Nozzle Size: 4–6 mm for controlled particle flow
• Angle of Blast: 45° for internal features, 90° for surface planes
• Collection System: Cyclone separator + fine cartridge filtration for closed-loop use

Pro Tip: Pre-test various bead sizes and cycle durations to match the complexity of different parts and materials.

Polystyrene blasting beads are more than just an alternative—they are a strategic advancement in post-processing for additive manufacturing. By combining precision, safety, and sustainability, they unlock a new level of quality assurance for cutting-edge production.

At Jiangsu Henglihong, we’re proud to lead the charge in supplying innovative, customized blasting media solutions that elevate our partners’ productivity and environmental performance.