|
Economics of Aluminum
Oxide
as a Silica Substitute
| Abrasive Cost Comparison |
|
|
| |
Silica Sand |
Aluminum Oxide |
| Abrasive Cost |
| Cost Per Ton |
$60.00 |
$700 |
| Nozzle Volume/Hr. (Lbs)* |
2,000 |
2,000 |
| Breakdown Factor |
100.00% |
10.00% |
| Used Abrasive (Lbs.) |
2,000 |
200 |
| Cost of Abrasive Used |
$60.00 |
$70.00 |
| Other Costs |
| Labor |
$20.00 |
$20.00 |
| Disposal Cost ($25/Ton) |
$25.00 |
$2.50 |
| Material Handling? |
|
|
| Procurement Cost? |
|
|
| Storage? |
|
|
| Total Costs |
$105.00 |
$92.50 |
| Productivity |
| Sq. Feet Blasted/Hr. |
285 |
285 |
| Cost/Square Foot Blasted |
$0.368 |
$0.325 |
| *1/2" Blast Nozzle |
|
This example assumes 10 reuses of Aluminum
Oxide.
In practice, Aluminum Oxide develops a "Working Mix" of grit sizes which
optimizes the number of abrasive impacts on a surface – this translates into a much
faster cleaning rate than can be accomplished with Silica Sand. This example
conservatively assumed equal cleaning rates between the two materials.
Although amounts have not been calculated for material handling, storage, and
procurement costs, these will all be higher with the greater volume of material that must
be used when blasting with Silica Sand versus Aluminum Oxide.
|
|
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