Sibley Engineering

Initially, Plastic Media Blasting (PMB)was restricted to the aircraft and aerospace industries. Through many years of operation and technology refinement, it was found that PMB was very applicable to other industries. The applications of PMB are only limited by the imagination of the operator, given the multitude of applications discovered each year. Sibley Engineering, Inc (SEI) provides PMB services in two main areas; industrial and commercial/private.

SEI has recognized a need in the plastics industry for an effective and economical way to clean molds. The molds used to produce plastic parts develop a buildup of residue from mold releases, lubricating agents, burnt polymers and cooling liquids. This residue needs to be cleaned periodically to maintain cosmetic and dimensional requirements. Traditionally, sandblasting cannot be used for cleaning finished molds due to its ability to etch the surface and actually remove metal. Typically, this is accomplished using questionable chemicals and hand or mechanical scrubbing by available employees. This method presents a health hazard, is environmentally unsafe and the true costs vary based on the hourly rate of available labor. If low cost unskilled labor is not available, a highly compensated machine operator or machinist must be used which could effectively double or triple the cost of these necessary cleaning operations. SEI will provide a fast, safe, professional cleaning service at a known and consistent cost.

The automotive and refinishing can also extensively utilize PMB. PMB is an effective and economical process to strip finishes from thin gauge automobile body panels. It does not harm or distort the metal as sandblasting does. The process yields a smooth, ready-to-paint surface. Chemical paint stripping is an environmentally unsafe health hazard and yields a semi-liquid waste residue that is difficult to dispose of. Hand or mechanical sanding is very labor intensive, and therefore costly. Extensive scraping and grinding can further damage the metal surface requiring additional bodywork and more sanding. Restoration businesses and body shops acknowledge the advantages of PMB paint stripping. SEI will provide a fast, professional paint stripping service to accommodate the commercial/private needs of its customers.

The Process
PMB is a dry abrasive blasting process designed to replace chemical paint stripping operations and conventional sandblasting. It is performed in a ventilated enclosure. PMB is similar to conventional sandblasting except that soft, angular plastic particles are used as the blasting medium. The PMB process propels the plastic media at a much lower pressure (less than 40 psi) than conventional blasting. PMB is well suited for stripping paints, since the low pressure and relatively soft plastic medium have minimal effect on the surfaces under the paint.

Plastic media are manufactured in a variety of type, sizes, and hardness. A military specification (MIL-P-85891) has been developed for plastic media. The specification provides general information on the types and characteristics of plastic media.

The 7 types of media are:

Type I - Polyester (Thermoset)
Type II - Urea formaldehyde (Thermoset)
Type III - Melamine formaldehyde (Thermoset
Type IV - Phenol formaldehyde (Thermoset)
Type V - Acrylic (Thermoplastic)
TyepVI - Poly (allyl diglycol carbonate0 (Thermoset)
TypeVII - Starch-g-acrylic







	Initially, Plastic Media Blasting (PMB)was restricted to the aircraft and aerospace industries. Through many years of operation and technology refinement, it was found that PMB was very applicable to other industries. The applications of PMB are only limited by the imagination of the operator, given the multitude of applications discovered each year. Sibley Engineering, Inc (SEI) provides PMB services in two main areas; industrial and commercial/private. SEI has recognized a need in the plastics industry for an effective and economical way to clean molds. The molds used to produce plastic parts develop a buildup of residue from mold releases, lubricating agents, burnt polymers and cooling liquids. This residue needs to be cleaned periodically to maintain cosmetic and dimensional requirements. Traditionally, sandblasting cannot be used for cleaning finished molds due to its ability to etch the surface and actually remove metal. Typically, this is accomplished using questionable chemicals and hand or mechanical scrubbing by available employees. This method presents a health hazard, is environmentally unsafe and the true costs vary based on the hourly rate of available labor. If low cost unskilled labor is not available, a highly compensated machine operator or machinist must be used which could effectively double or triple the cost of these necessary cleaning operations. SEI will provide a fast, safe, professional cleaning service at a known and consistent cost. The automotive and refinishing can also extensively utilize PMB. PMB is an effective and economical process to strip finishes from thin gauge automobile body panels. It does not harm or distort the metal as sandblasting does. The process yields a smooth, ready-to-paint surface. Chemical paint stripping is an environmentally unsafe health hazard and yields a semi-liquid waste residue that is difficult to dispose of. Hand or mechanical sanding is very labor intensive, and therefore costly. Extensive scraping and grinding can further damage the metal surface requiring additional bodywork and more sanding. Restoration businesses and body shops acknowledge the advantages of PMB paint stripping. SEI will provide a fast, professional paint stripping service to accommodate the commercial/private needs of its customers. The Process PMB is a dry abrasive blasting process designed to replace chemical paint stripping operations and conventional sandblasting. It is performed in a ventilated enclosure. PMB is similar to conventional sandblasting except that soft, angular plastic particles are used as the blasting medium. The PMB process propels the plastic media at a much lower pressure (less than 40 psi) than conventional blasting. PMB is well suited for stripping paints, since the low pressure and relatively soft plastic medium have minimal effect on the surfaces under the paint. Plastic media are manufactured in a variety of type, sizes, and hardness. A military specification (MIL-P-85891) has been developed for plastic media. The specification provides general information on the types and characteristics of plastic media. The 7 types of media are: Type I - Polyester (Thermoset) Type II - Urea formaldehyde (Thermoset) Type III - Melamine formaldehyde (Thermoset Type IV - Phenol formaldehyde (Thermoset) Type V - Acrylic (Thermoplastic) TyepVI - Poly (allyl diglycol carbonate0 (Thermoset) TypeVII - Starch-g-acrylic


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