PUMICE APPLICATIONS

Pumice in Polishing and Abrasive Applications

A number of factors contribute to pumice being widely used for polishing and cleansing applications in industry and consumer products—abundance, neutral in pH, chemically benign, hard enough to abrade yet soft enough not damage the surface—but pumice’s characteristic friability is where it really shines. Even when ground to an ultrafine powder, pumice still retains its abrasive quality.

Formed from violent volcanic activity, lightweight, frothy pumice is similar to glass in physical and chemical makeup, but unlike glass, pumice is a much softer abrasive. Fine-ground pumice is the softest abrasive media you can use and ideal for applications where the quality of the finished surface is paramount.

Industrial Abrasive Applications

When it comes to gentle abrasive grit, pumice is the undisputed champion. Nothing else works as effectively in so many different manufacturing applications. Hess produces a wide selection of fine pumice powder, including the microfine grades down to 3 microns. We also do grade blends so on the off chance we don’t already have what you need, we’ll work with you produce a pumice abrasive to your exact specs.

COMMON USES FOR PUMICE IN INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

Hess knows pumice, and we know the needs of the polishing and abrasives industry. It was upon abrasives that we built our global footprint. [ ••• ]

Once we’ve helped you determine the ideal spec for your application, we combine that expertise with state-of-the-art lab and processing equipment to insure the spec is maintained throughout the entire process—insuring consistency from batch to batch.

POLISHING MEDIA. Pumice powder is used for cleaning and polishing circuit boards and preparing other sensitive electronic components.

Television glass and other critical grinding and polishing applications use carefully graded pumice.

Pumice is used by dental professionals to clean teeth and restore gleam. Pumice is also used in the finishing of dentures.

Pumice makes an excellent tumbling media for precision parts finishing such as buttons and other highly-polished delicate items and parts.

CLEANSING MEDIA. The softer, gentler abrasion of pumice is replacing the harsh, destructive bite of sand in sensitive high-pressure blasting applications, such as the restorative cleaning of grime and neglect from historic buildings and other constructs.

TEXTILE SOFTENING and CONDITIONING. The popular process of stone-washing has successfully relied on pumice to get the job done. Light, carefully sized and rounded pumice stones and specially-designed washing machines combine to soften and condition the appearance of stiff denims and other fabrics, imparting that worn-in and comfortable look and feel.

CRITICAL, ULTRA-PURE APPLICATIONS

Hess refines a low heavy-mineral pumice, with impurity concentrations of less than 0.3 percent, an enhancement of quality vital for purposes of precision grinding, such as for television glass.

Consumer Abrasive Product Applications

Fine pumice powder has been used to add gentle abrasive cleaning power to hand soaps for many years. Pumice powder is now found in a variety of cleaning and polishing products—rubbing compounds, household cleansers, whitening toothpastes, pencil erasers.

COMMON ABRASIVE APPLICATIONS FOR PUMICE IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS

There is a surprising variety of product-ingredient applications for a light, gently-aggressive abrasive that stays in suspension. [ ••• ]

EXFOLIATING SCRUBS and CLEANSERS. Pumice is a proven replacement exfoliant for plastic microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products.

SCOURING STONES and STICKS. Pumice sticks in various shapes and sizes are formed, pressed and marketed to consumers and industry to clean tough stains on hard surfaces such as bathroom fixtures, ovens, grills, cast iron cookware, concrete surfaces, tools, and the like. Paint, rust, scale, mineral deposits, and grease are no match for the gentle bite of pumice.

RUBBING COMPOUNDS. Ultrafine, pumice-based polishes and rubbing compounds gently remove scratches and waxy build-up, restoring a gleaming shine to painted and polished surfaces. Sprinkle-on fine and microfine pumice powder grades also team up with rubbing lubricants for rubbing-up gleaming layered-film finishes on wood and metal. Hess markets a fine finish grit line under the Sedoso™ brand name.

WHITENING PASTES. Whether used alone or in combination with a chemical whitener, pumice-enhanced pastes work to restore the brightness to teeth and dentures. Hess’ low heavy-mineral pumice is ideal for such delicate applications.

Delicate-Surface Sand Blasting Applications

For scour-cleaning rusted, painted, or grime-gunked surfaces, a sandblasting rig gets it done quickly and completely. And with pumice blast media, a simple cleaning can be much more—putting a smooth, satiny polish on soft metal and plastic surfaces. [ ••• ]

RECOMMENDED GRADES FOR ABRASIVE AND POLISHING APPLICATIONS
APPLICATION	HP GRADE

Industrial Abrasives	Over 30 of our standard grades and grade blends have application for industrial abrasives. Please contact us for recommendations.
Consumer Products Abrasive Grits	25 standard grades and grade blends have application for consumer product grit. Please contact us for recommendations.
Sand Blast Media	SBH (#10 Heavies) \| #2 \| SBF (F)
Tumbling Media (Metals/Plastics)	2/0N \| 1/0N
Tumbling Media (Textiles)	1 x 3/4 \| 3/4 x 3/8

NOTE: The grades selected above are typical and representative. Please contact us regarding your product or process for help to determine the ideal grade or grade blend.

GET A PUMICE SAMPLE

If you’d like to sample a pumice grade (or several), we have a nice selection of stock pumice grades available to purchase in small quantities via our Pumice Products Store.

If you’d like to run tests and trials using our pumice in your commercial product formulation or industrial process, please contact us at salesteam@hesspumice.com with your request. We look forward to answering your questions, helping you select the best grade for your process, or helping you explore the fit of pumice for your needs. PLEASE include your name, your company or organization, pertinent project details, ship-to address, and preferred contact information in the sample request email.