Brown Fused Alumina A80# (80 grit) is a highly versatile medium-size abrasive among alumina-based industrial abrasives. It is produced by high-temperature arc smelting of bauxite, followed by crushing, magnetic separation and classification. With an Al₂O₃ content of approximately 95% and Mohs hardness of 9, it features balanced toughness and moderate cutting power. It does not cut aggressively like coarser grits, nor does it suffer from low efficiency like fine powders. It is a commonly used grade for metal surface treatment, abrasive tool manufacturing and refractory aggregates.
1. Sandblasting & Surface Preparation (Primary Application)
A80# is a preferred grit for precision wet and dry sandblasting for pre-treatment of metal workpieces:
- Rust removal, oxide scale elimination, old coating stripping and weld mark cleaning on carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy and copper parts.
- Creating uniform anchor patterns before painting, powder coating or electroplating to improve coating adhesion.
- Mold cleaning, casting deburring and PCB sandblasting.
- Surface pre-treatment for finished aerospace and automotive components. Its sharp particle edges deliver high cleaning efficiency, low dust emission and reusability, and it contains no free silica.
Selection note: Compared with coarse 46# grit, A80# delivers finer surface roughness without deep pitting. Compared with finer 120# grit, it removes material faster, balancing processing efficiency and surface finish.
2. Raw Material for Bonded & Coated Abrasives
It serves as base aggregate for various abrasive products:
- Resin / ceramic bonded grinding wheels, cutting discs, grinding heads and oil stones.
- Coated abrasives including sandpaper, emery cloth and abrasive belts.
- Raw material for polishing compounds, polishing blocks and tumbling media for grinding high-tensile-strength metals such as carbon steel and alloy steel.
3. Application in Refractory Industry
Brown fused alumina resists high temperatures up to 2250°C. A80# particles act as refractory aggregates for shaped and unshaped refractory products: ladle castables, taphole clay, wear-resistant precast blocks and wear-resistant linings. It enhances wear resistance and anti-erosion performance of refractory materials, widely adopted in iron & steel smelting and high-temperature industrial furnaces.
4. Other Industrial Uses
- Investment casting: Aggregate for casting coatings to improve casting surface smoothness.
- Wear-resistant materials: Filler for wear-resistant flooring, rubber and friction pads.
- Loose grinding: Dry and wet grinding & polishing for glass, ceramics and optical parts.
Summary
To sum up: Brown Fused Alumina A80# balances cutting performance and surface finish. It is the first choice for customers requiring sandblasting pre-treatment, resin wheel production and wear-resistant castable formulation. Coarser grains are for heavy rust removal while fine grains are for mirror polishing. A80# sits in between with excellent versatility, making it a standard stocked grade for many factories.
