Starblast produces a profile of 1.5 to 2.5 mil on new steel and slightly deeper profiles where a coarser abrasive had been used previously. Other abrasives may produce profiles greater than 3.0 mil. Excessive profile has been recognized as the cause of premature coating failure when profile peaks were not covered adequately. It also requires more paint to cover a deeper profile. Also, some abrasives leave more embedded particles on the surface than Starblast which can be difficult to coat.
Starblast abrasives are available in several grades to meet different blasting requirements.
All grades contain the staurolite mineral with the differences being grain size. Biasill is the finest and least aggressive abrasive in the Starblast family. It is recommended for thin metal pieces or soft substrates such as aluminum. Starblast and Starblast XL are the most widely used products. They excel at removing rust, mill scale and maintenance coatings.