Surface Preparation With KMT Aqua-Dyne Water Blasting

Surface Preparation is the process of removing contaminants. Surface Preparation may range from a wipe down to a total stripping of coating. The surfaces are usually metal or aluminum and include ship hulls, large storage tanks (internal and external), walk ways, helipads or any hard surface. Removable contaminants include paint, oil, scale, or rust. Contaminates are removed with water blasting before coating or painting a surface. Surface Preparation requires special preplanning and evaluation of potential hazards before work can begin.

There are several types of Surface Preparation methods that are used to clean a surface before painting or coating. These include Toxic Cleaning Solvent, Chemical Removers, Mechanical Removers, and Ultra High Pressure Water Blasting. The two most common forms used in Surface Preparation are Ultra High Pressure Waterblasting (water only) and Abrasive Blasting, which uses a large amout of abrasive (primarily sand).

In recent years with KMT Aqua-Dyne leading the way, UHP Water Blasting has become the leading method for Surface Preparation. The benefit of UHP Water Blasting is its extremely ingenious way of being an effective and environmentally friendly way to prepare a surface for coating application with only pressurized water.

Surface Preparation Techniques

There are primarily two types of Surface Preparation techniques, Abrasive Blasting, and UHP Water Blasting:

Abrasive Blasting (grit blasting) involves the use of compressed air and large amounts of abrasive (sand primarily) to prepare a surface for coating or paint.

Ultra High Pressure (UHP) Water Blasting involves the use of UHP Water (usually between 20,000 psi and 40000 psi) to prepare a surface for coating or paint. UHP Water Blasting uses an array of motors (usually diesel to handle the flow rate and psi needed for Surface Preparation), pumps, and accessories to ensure that a surface is ready for paint or coating is as little time as possible. 

Benefits of Water Blasting Surface Preparation

• UHP Water Blasting is cleaner and less wasteful than Abrasive Blasting
• Compared to Abrasive Blasting, UHP Water Blasting leaves 98% less residue behind
• KMT Aqua-Dyne UHP Water Blasting is dust free 
• Dust free environment allows coating and painting to happen simultaneously with Surface Preparation
• Dust sensitive areas can be maintained while Surface Preparation is taking place.
• Removal of multi-layered coating systems is possible
• Preparation of specific areas is possible without harming the surrounding areas
• UHP Water Blasting is extremely gentle. It will not distort or change the physical property of the surface
• There is no damage to sensitive areas, such as welding seams and connecting joints
• Lower cost for disposal of material
• Prepared surfaces are contaminant free.