Plain English Meaning
Spraying tiny hard particles at a surface to clean it or to expose damage that's hiding underneath.
Full Definition
A surface preparation and inspection technique in which fine abrasive particles are propelled at high velocity against a composite or metal surface to clean it, roughen it for bonding, or reveal hidden damage beneath the paint or outer layer.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of composite aircraft structures, especially when preparing a surface for inspection, bonding, or repair.
Derivation
Grit means small, hard, gritty particles (sand, glass beads, aluminum oxide). Blasting means propelling them forcefully. Together: forcefully spraying abrasive particles at a surface.
Why Pilots Care
Proper surface preparation prevents weak bonds that could lead to delamination or structural failure in flight.
Analogy
It is like using very fine, high-speed sandpaper carried by air instead of rubbed by hand.
Intuition Check
Do not read “blasting” as an explosion. In this maintenance context, it means a controlled stream of abrasive particles aimed at a surface.
Example Sentence 1
After a ground handling incident, the technician used grit blasting to remove the paint and check for impact damage in the composite skin.
Example Sentence 2
Excessive grit blasting pressure can expose or damage reinforcing fibers in a composite part.