Definition
A paint and coating removal process in which small, angular plastic particles are propelled at low pressure against an aircraft surface to strip paint, primer, or contaminants without damaging the underlying metal. Plastic media blasting is a dry stripping method used as an alternative to chemical paint removers, and is commonly applied to aluminum airframe components where surface fatigue from harder abrasives must be avoided.
Plain English
A way of removing old paint from aircraft parts by spraying tiny plastic chips at the surface. The plastic is hard enough to take the paint off but soft enough not to harm the metal underneath.
Context Anchor
Seen in airframe maintenance, paint removal, and surface preparation discussions.
Derivation
Plastic comes from the Greek plastikos, meaning able to be shaped or molded. Blasting refers to propelling something at high speed. Together, the term describes shaping or stripping a surface by hurling plastic particles at it.
Why Pilots Care
Allows thorough removal of coatings while preserving structural integrity and airworthiness of the aircraft.
Intuition Check
Media does not mean news or communications here. In PMB, media means the small plastic particles used to remove paint.
Example Sentence 1
The shop used plastic media blasting to strip the wing skins before applying new primer and paint.
Example Sentence 2
Plastic media blasting prepared the composite fairing for repainting without causing surface abrasion.