"Black Beauty" Sand blasting Grit

[Steve Thorp]

Hi : I found this material where I work in a hotel, we use it as an
attractive public ashtray filler for people to put their cig. butts out.
It's a real nice semi-shiny black color. I did some research on the product,
it is called "Black Beauty" Slag Products by Reed Minerals. Its main use is
for sandblasting and as a grit they use on roofing shingles. here's more
info from the Reed Materials website:
Black Beauty® Abrasive

AKA: Boiler slag, coal slag

Chemical Name: An amorphous mixture of Fe, Al, and Ca silicates

Description: A black boiler slag abrasive with the following advantages: low
moisture content, high degree of etch for permanent bonding of coatings,
readily used in standard equipment in commerce, inert, fast cutting due to
sharp angular edges, hardness, more economical,longer lasting and leaves
minimum dust

Typical Chemical Composition

Silicon Dioxide= 47.20%,

Aluminum oxide= 21.39%,

Titanium dioxide= 1.01%,

Ferric oxide= 19.23%,

Calcium oxide= 6.80%,

Magnesium Oxide= 1.47%,

Potassium Oxide= 1.60% and

Sodium Oxide= 0.62%

Grades:

Utility Grade #BB1043- A coarse grade used for tough blasting jobs

Medium Grade #BB1243- Used for general purpose repair and maintenance
blasting

Fine Grade #BB2043- Used for new construction, light paint and rust removal,
and for special maintenance applications requiring reduced profiles

Extra Fine Grade #BB3063- Used to clean surfaces and create a smooth finish,
Brush-Off Blast, or in a high pressure water blast system

Typical Physical Properties:

Particle Shape angular, sharp

Specific Gravity (g/cm3) 2.7

Bulk Density (g/cm3) 75-1-- lbs. per cu. ft.

Melting Point (°C) greater than 2300

Moisture Content less than 0.5%

Conductivity @230°C (cal/s-cm-°C) less than 25 micro Siemens

Mohs Hardness @20°C 6-7

Free Silica less than 1%



Typical Applications:

Used frequently as an sandblast abrasive on sea faring vessels, tanks,
aggregate exposure, castings, structural steel, buildings, railroad
equipment and bridges.

Has anyone heard of, or used this material ? Do you think it would be safe ?
I'm going to try a test in a small tank, but I dont have any test kits to
see what it will do to water parameters, I'll have to use a fish or two and
some plants as test subjects. I'll let you know how it goes, as this stuff
is CHEAP ($8.00 /100#)

[coelacanth]

"Steve Thorp" > wrote in message
m...
> Hi : I found this material where I work in a hotel, we use it as an
> attractive public ashtray filler for people to put their cig. butts out.
> It's a real nice semi-shiny black color. I did some research on the
product,
> it is called "Black Beauty" Slag Products by Reed Minerals. Its main use
is
> for sandblasting and as a grit they use on roofing shingles. here's more
> info from the Reed Materials website:
> Black Beauty® Abrasive
>
> AKA: Boiler slag, coal slag
>
> Chemical Name: An amorphous mixture of Fe, Al, and Ca silicates
>
I know the stuff you mean. It would look great in an aquarium.
Unfortunately, it would almost certainly be toxic to plants
and fish. My guess would be it would leech petroleum-like
compounds and metals into the water, both of which are
quite toxic.

-coelacanth

[SamB]

I did the exact opposite- White sandblasting sand (quartz). Set up about 6
years ago- never torn down. No 'black line', have lots of cats and loaches
in an 80 gal. Also looks very nice- wouldn't call it natural but is nice
counter point to all the bog log. plants and fish.
SamB

"coelacanth" > wrote in message
om...
>
> "Steve Thorp" > wrote in message
> m...
> > Hi : I found this material where I work in a hotel, we use it as an
> > attractive public ashtray filler for people to put their cig. butts out.
> > It's a real nice semi-shiny black color. I did some research on the
> product,
> > it is called "Black Beauty" Slag Products by Reed Minerals. Its main use
> is
> > for sandblasting and as a grit they use on roofing shingles. here's more
> > info from the Reed Materials website:
> > Black Beauty® Abrasive
> >
> > AKA: Boiler slag, coal slag
> >
> > Chemical Name: An amorphous mixture of Fe, Al, and Ca silicates
> >
> I know the stuff you mean. It would look great in an aquarium.
> Unfortunately, it would almost certainly be toxic to plants
> and fish. My guess would be it would leech petroleum-like
> compounds and metals into the water, both of which are
> quite toxic.
>
> -coelacanth
>
>