Cast iron abrasives are supplied in angular grit particles, they contain hard iron carbides and since they fracture in a brittle way upon repeated impact, they clean rapidly by a cutting action, similar to that of a slag abrasive.
In addition, they produce a sharp angular profile, depending on the grade of grit used, BSS grade G17 (SAE G40) is a popular size for use on mild steel, capable in its new state of producing a profile of approximately 75 microns
Cast iron abrasives are predominantly used in compressed air blasting equipment, and labour is the predominant cost involved with this method – far more than the cost of abrasives. The condition of the equipment and blasting skill of the operator have a major effect on the overall process cost.