FAQ

General Questions

What does Chesapeake Specialty Products manufacture?

Chesapeake Specialty Products (CSP) manufactures high-performance metallic abrasives, foundry sand additives such as SphereOx® and SphereOx® No-Coat, and iron products engineered for demanding industrial applications worldwide.

Where are your products manufactured?

CSP operates manufacturing facilities in both Baltimore, Maryland, USA and South Korea, allowing us to provide consistent supply, competitive pricing, and global distribution.

Do you export internationally?

Yes. CSP supplies customers worldwide and has been recognized for excellence in export growth. Our logistics team works directly with customers and freight partners to ensure smooth international delivery.

How can I contact a technical specialist?

Submit your contact information through our website form or email us directly at info@chesprod.com. A technical specialist will reach out to discuss your process, casting challenges, and performance goals.

Foundry Additives

What is SphereOx®?

SphereOx® is a specialized foundry sand additive designed to reduce common casting defects such as veining, penetration, and pinholes while improving surface finish and mold performance.

What is the difference between SphereOx® and FineOx® products?

SphereOx® (specifically Sphereox Foundry Sand Additive) and FineOx® are both high-purity synthetic iron-based sand additives from Chesapeake Specialty Products, but they differ significantly in formulation, particle characteristics, performance, and primary applications in foundry sand systems.

• Particle Shape and Morphology: SphereOx® is the only predominantly spherical iron additive engineered specifically for the foundry industry, with uniform size distribution, critical sizing, and virtually no dust or impurities. This spherical shape improves sand flowability, even distribution in the mix, and packing density. FineOx® is a lower-grade synthetic iron product, lacking the spherical uniformity—typically finer and more irregular, which can lead to less consistent dispersion and potential dusting.

• Iron (Fe) Content and Purity: SphereOx® contains higher Fe content (typically ~73–75%) than most commercial additives (including mined/natural alternatives at 63–68%), with exceptional purity and consistency due to its synthetic engineered nature. FineOx® is also high-purity and synthetic, but it has lower overall Fe effectiveness per pound compared to SphereOx® and is positioned as more economical.

• Defect Reduction and Performance: SphereOx® excels at eliminating a broad range of common casting defects (veining, expansion penetration, pinholes, burn-on, lustrous carbon, gas entrapment, mold expansion, and shrink) through its unique chemistry, spherical buffering of thermal expansion, and redox control at the mold-metal interface. It often allows 10–30% resin reduction while maintaining or improving mold/core strength. FineOx® targets similar defects (primarily via iron chemistry and Fe donation) but is less effective overall—requiring higher dosages (e.g., 1.5–2× or more for equivalent results) and showing slightly inferior performance on severe or multiple defects.

• Emission Reduction and LOI: Sphereox®'s unique chemistry and spherical shape create a "negative" loss on ignition (LOI), often called Gain On Ignition, reducing VOC/HAP emissions by up to 40% during resin burn-out (further enhanced by lower resin usage). FineOx® provides this emission benefit to a slightly lesser degree.

• Cost and Application Scenarios: SphereOx® is premium-priced but delivers better cost-per-ton-castings savings through defect reduction, lower resin/binder demand, higher productivity, and environmental compliance. FineOx® is more economical for moderate defect issues, simpler applications, or when budget is primary and emission reduction is secondary—suitable as a baseline sand additive or where high tensile strength in cores is needed without advanced defect suppression.

• Other Notes: SphereOx® is recommended as the starting point for most no-bake, phenolic urethane, furan, or resin-coated systems with persistent defects. FineOx® can be cost-efficient in mild defect cases. Both are synthetic and high-purity, but Sphereox®'s spherical design and higher Fe/chemistry make it the advanced choice for complex/high-value castings.

When should a foundry use SphereOx® Foundry Sand Additive versus FineOx® — for example, if the main issue is veining/penetration vs. other defects, or if emission reduction is secondary to cost?

Use SphereOx® when primary defects are veining, expansion penetration, pinholes, or lustrous carbon in no-bake/furan/phenolic systems, as its spherical iron particle morphology (high surface area, uniform distribution) provides superior thermal expansion buffering and redox control, typically reducing veining by 70–100% at 1–3% addition while cutting VOC/HAP emissions 20–50% via lower resin demand. FineOx® (standard synthetic iron product) is more cost-effective when veining/penetration is moderate and emission reduction is secondary; it targets similar defects via Fe donation but with less uniform dispersion and lower effectiveness per pound (often requiring 1.5–2× dosage for equivalent results). Choose SphereOx® for complex/high-value castings or emission compliance; FineOx® for cost-driven, simpler defect profiles.

Will SphereOx® affect green strength or permeability?

When properly added at recommended levels, SphereOx® is designed to improve casting quality without negatively impacting mold strength or permeability. Testing is always recommended.

What is SphereOx® No-Coat and when should it be used?

SphereOx® No-Coat Sand Additive is an advanced engineered foundry sand additive produced by Chesapeake Specialty Products. It is a sophisticated variant in the SphereOx® line, combining the defect-fighting capabilities of standard SphereOx® Foundry Sand Additive with enhanced protective and thermal properties—incorporating benefits from high-performance ceramics—to deliver exceptional as-cast surface finish without the need for traditional refractory coatings on cores or molds. SphereOx® No-Coat should be used as the primary choice when the goals are to eliminate or significantly reduce the need for traditional refractory core/mold coatings (e.g., zircon, graphite, or alumina-based washes) while achieving superior as-cast surface finish and peel characteristics. Its optimized thermal properties and chemistry provide exceptional performance at the mold-metal interface, delivering smoother surfaces (lower roughness Ra values), reduced burn-on/burn-in, and minimized secondary finishing operations like grinding, welding repairs, or shot blasting cleanup—often resulting in lower labor, energy, and material costs.

Key scenarios where SphereOx® No-Coat is preferred:

• High-production foundries seeking to remove coating application steps entirely (saving drying time, coating material costs, and application labor).

• Intricate or complex cores/molds where uniform coating application is difficult, inconsistent, or labor-intensive (e.g., thin-wall sections, detailed geometries in iron, steel, or bronze castings).

• Applications prioritizing surface quality over other defects alone—castings made with SphereOx® No-Coat frequently exhibit better peel and finish than those with conventional coatings, thanks to its unique thermal advantages that enhance anti-veining, reduce metal penetration, and improve overall surface integrity without additional refractories.

• No-bake, phenolic urethane, cold-box, or resin-coated sand systems where eliminating coatings aligns with process simplification, emission reduction (via lower resin demand in some cases), and cost-per-ton savings.

• Situations with persistent burn-on or poor peel even when using standard SphereOx® or other additives—SphereOx® No-Coat's formulation is engineered to outperform in coating-elimination scenarios while still suppressing veining, penetration, and related defects.

Typical addition rates are similar to standard SphereOx® (e.g., 2–3% by weight, depending on sand system and casting requirements), but testing is recommended to optimize for specific resins, metals, and geometries. It is particularly valuable in iron/steel foundries aiming for leaner operations, reduced environmental impact from coating volatiles, and higher first-pass yield on surface-sensitive castings. If coating elimination is not a priority and broader defect control (e.g., severe lustrous carbon or shrink) dominates, standard SphereOx® may be the better starting point.

When is SphereOx® No-Coat Sand Additive preferred over standard SphereOx® (e.g., for eliminating core/mold coatings, improving surface finish on certain castings, or in specific resin systems)?

SphereOx® No-Coat is preferred when the goal is complete elimination of refractory coatings on cores/molds (e.g., in high-production green sand or no-bake iron/steel foundries), as its optimized chemistry and particle design provide enhanced anti-veining and peel properties directly in the sand mix, delivering smoother as-cast surfaces (reduced burn-on/roughness Ra values) without zircon/graphite washes. It outperforms standard SphereOx® in coating elimination scenarios and on intricate cores where coating application is labor-intensive or inconsistent.

When dealing primarily with burn-on/burn-in defects rather than veining or emissions, is there a preferred CSP additive, or should SphereOx® still be the starting point?

When burn-on/burn-in defects are the primary concern (rather than veining, lustrous carbon, emissions, or a broad mix of other issues), SphereOx® No-Coat Sand Additive is the preferred starting point among CSP products. Its specialized formulation and thermal properties are engineered to create an exceptionally effective protective barrier at the mold-metal interface, significantly reducing metal penetration into sand pores and minimizing burn-on/burn-in severity (often >80–90% reduction in affected areas, based on typical foundry trial results). The optimized chemistry and particle design promote superior peel characteristics and smoother as-cast surfaces directly in the sand mix, often eliminating the need for refractory coatings that are commonly used to combat burn-on in silica systems.

This makes SphereOx® No-Coat particularly effective for:

• Castings prone to burn-on due to prolonged metal contact, high pouring temperatures, or aggressive alloys (e.g., ductile iron, gray iron, or certain steels).

• Foundries looking to reduce or eliminate coating-related costs, labor, and variability while addressing burn-on as the dominant defect.

• Systems where surface finish and peel are critical alongside burn-on control.

While standard SphereOx® (Foundry Sand Additive) remains highly effective against burn-on (via its spherical iron chemistry and reducing barrier formation) and should still be considered if burn-on is accompanied by significant veining, penetration, or gas-related issues, SphereOx® No-Coat typically delivers the best targeted performance and cost-efficiency when burn-on/burn-in is the main or overriding problem. Start with SphereOx® No-Coat in these cases, then adjust dosage (typically 2–3% by weight) or combine with standard SphereOx® if additional defect suppression is needed after initial trials. Always validate through foundry-specific testing, as sand system, resin type, metal poured, and pouring conditions influence results. Chesapeake Specialty Products offers technical support and samples to optimize for burn-on-focused applications.

In no-bake or phenolic urethane systems with persistent lustrous carbon or gas defects, is SphereOx® always the first choice, or are there cases where FineOx® or another additive might be more effective/cost-efficient?

SphereOx® is usually the first choice for lustrous carbon and gas defects in phenolic urethane/no-bake systems due to its spherical shape enabling better sand flow, even distribution at low additions (0.5–2.5%), and catalytic effect on carbon decomposition, often allowing 10–25% resin reduction while eliminating lustrous carbon films. SphereOX Fine® (AFS ~ 175) is even better for gas removal as there are more particles per sand grain. FineOx® can be more cost-efficient in mild cases or when high iron content is already present from returns, but it may require higher loadings and can increase LOI if overdosed. SphereOx® wins for persistent/severe gas-related defects.

If the goal is maximum resin reduction while still controlling shrink in heavy-section iron castings, which additive (Sphereox®, Sphereox No-Coat, etc.) gives the best balance?

Standard SphereOx® typically gives the best balance for maximum resin reduction (often 15–30% lower binder demand) while controlling shrink/porosity in heavy-section ductile/gray iron castings. Its uniform spherical dispersion improves packing density and gas permeability, reducing gas entrapment and allowing lower resin levels without veining resurgence. Sphereox No-Coat may allow similar reductions but is optimized more for coating elimination than shrink control in thick sections.

For foundries already using ceramic sand or facing high thermal stress issues, when does SphereOx® Ceramic Sand outperform SphereOx® regular or No-Coat variants?

SphereOx® Ceramic Sand is not a sand additive like the other SphereOx® products (e.g., standard Sphereox Foundry Sand Additive or Sphereox No-Coat). Instead, it is a complete sand replacement product—a fully engineered, high-performance ceramic foundry sand designed to substitute for traditional silica sand (or other base sands) in the molding/core-making system. It consists of spherical ceramic grains combined with the proprietary SphereOx® iron-based chemistry integrated directly into the sand particles themselves. This means you replace your existing base sand entirely (or in high proportions) with SphereOx® Ceramic Sand, rather than adding a small percentage (1–8%) of an additive to an existing silica or reclaimed sand system.

This distinction is important: additives like standard SphereOx® or No-Coat are mixed into your current sand at low levels to enhance performance, whereas SphereOx® Ceramic Sand is used as the primary molding/core sand, providing baseline properties (low thermal expansion, high refractoriness, excellent flowability) plus the defect-suppression benefits of the SphereOx® chemistry.

SphereOx® Ceramic Sand outperforms silica sand and silica with standard SphereOx® (Foundry Sand Additive) or SphereOx® No-Coat variants in applications where extremely high thermal stress or severe thermal shock conditions exceed what silica-based systems (even with additives) can reliably handle. It is specifically engineered for these demanding scenarios:

• Foundries already using (or considering switching to) ceramic sand as their base molding/core material — SphereOx® Ceramic Sand combines the low thermal expansion coefficient of premium ceramic grains (~0.4–0.6 × 10⁻⁶/°C, roughly 1/10th that of silica sand) with the integrated SphereOx® iron chemistry. This dual benefit minimizes veining, expansion penetration, and cracking far more effectively than adding SphereOx® to a silica or reclaimed sand base, where the underlying silica still expands significantly (~15–20 × 10⁻⁶/°C) and can drive defects under extreme heat.

• Heavy-section steel castings (>4–6 inches thick), high-pouring-temperature alloys (e.g., high-alloy steels, stainless, tool steels, or nickel-based superalloys), or large iron castings where mold temperatures reach 1200–1500°C+ and thermal gradients are severe. The ceramic base prevents the sand from fusing, cracking, or expanding excessively- adding SphereOx® to the ceramic sand can suppress extreme defects (burn-on, penetration, veining) that persist even with ceramic sand approaches.

• Highly reclaimed or thermally stressed sand systems — In reclamation-heavy operations where silica grains degrade, lose strength, or accumulate thermal damage over cycles, SphereOx® Ceramic Sand maintains consistent performance longer due to its inherent refractoriness, low acid demand, and resistance to thermal shock spalling. Additives in degraded silica systems often reach diminishing returns.

• Castings with extreme hot spots or prolonged metal contact time — Where standard silica + SphereOx® additive still shows residual veining, scabbing, or penetration due to base sand limitations, the full-replacement ceramic system with integrated SphereOx® chemistry provides a more robust barrier and thermal buffer at the mold-metal interface.

• Applications requiring maximum dimensional stability and minimal shell/mold distortion — The near-zero thermal expansion of the ceramic grains, combined with SphereOx®'s redox and penetration control, delivers tighter tolerances, reduced warpage, and fewer hot tears compared to additive-enhanced silica systems.

Additionally, SphereOx® (the additive) can be added to SphereOx® Ceramic Sand for further enhanced benefits, such as 30% faster chilling than standard ceramic due to increased thermal conductivity and interface chilling effects, providing extra defect suppression (e.g., improved shrink control, reduced porosity, or faster solidification in heavy sections) while retaining the ceramic base's low-expansion advantages. This combination is valuable in ultra-demanding applications where baseline ceramic performance is good but maximum heat extraction or defect minimization is needed.

In summary, use SphereOx® Ceramic Sand (potentially with added SphereOx® additive) when the base sand thermal properties themselves are the limiting factor (high expansion, low refractoriness, thermal fatigue in reclamation), not just the defects that additives can mitigate. For most standard no-bake or resin-coated silica systems with moderate-to-severe defects but manageable thermal stress, regular SphereOx® or No-Coat (as additives) remain more cost-effective and sufficient. SphereOx® Ceramic Sand is the premium, full-system upgrade for the most thermally challenging foundry applications, often justifying the higher upfront cost through dramatically lower scrap, rework, and defect rates in those specific cases.

Testing and trial pours are strongly recommended to confirm the switch or additive combination, as it involves changing the entire sand system (or optimizing additions) rather than a simple additive tweak. Chesapeake Specialty Products provides technical support for such evaluations.

Metallic Abrasives

What types of metallic abrasives do you offer?

CSP manufactures high-quality metallic abrasives engineered for durability, recyclability, and consistent blasting performance.

What industries use your abrasives?

Our abrasives are commonly used in:

• Surface Preparation

• Ship and Marine Maintenance

How do your abrasives compare to imported alternatives?

CSP abrasives are engineered for consistency, longevity, and predictable performance. Customers often report improved blast efficiency and lower overall cost per ton of cleaned castings.

When should I choose METgrain® over METgrit® for a blasting project (e.g., differences in cleaning speed, profile achieved, or suitability for air vs. wheel blasting)?

METgrain® (rounded/irregular granular iron abrasive) is generally preferred over METgrit® (angular chilled iron grit) when higher impact energy and faster cleaning rates are needed on heavily scaled or corroded surfaces, particularly in wheel-blast systems where centrifugal acceleration maximizes its denser, more massive particle action. METgrain® typically produces a deeper, more uniform anchor profile (often 2.0–3.5 mil / 50–90 µm in a single pass at 90–110 psi nozzle pressure in air blast) due to its semi-angular shape and lower friability, making it suitable for aggressive stripping in open-air or automated wheel-blast setups on structural steel or ship hulls. METgrit®, being sharper and more angular (higher edge count per particle), excels in controlled profiling on cleaner substrates where a sharper, more defined SSPC-SP 10 Near-White profile (1.5–2.5 mil) is required with less over-blasting risk. It performs better in air-blast applications for precision work (e.g., spot repairs) because its shape maintains cutting efficiency longer before rounding. Choose METgrain® for high-production wheel-blast throughput; choose METgrit® for air-blast jobs prioritizing profile sharpness and minimal substrate damage.

In what scenarios is METgrit® (standard version) preferred over METgrit® Economy Chilled Iron Grit — such as when maximum hardness/longevity justifies the higher cost?

Standard METgrit® (higher-carbon chilled iron formulation, typically ~58–62 HRC hardness) is preferred when extended recycle life and resistance to breakdown are critical, such as in closed-loop wheel-blast systems with magnetic separation where abrasives see 500–1,200+ cycles before significant fines generation (>10% below 200 mesh). Its superior fracture toughness reduces particle shattering under high-impact loading, maintaining cutting edges longer and lowering consumption rates (often 0.4–0.8 lb/ft² vs. 1.0–1.5 lb/ft² for economy grades on equivalent jobs). Economy Chilled Iron Grit (lower alloying or heat treatment for cost reduction) is adequate for shorter-cycle air-blast jobs, one-pass applications, or when budget constraints outweigh longevity (e.g., maintenance blasting on bridges with frequent media replacement). Select standard METgrit® when total cost-per-square-foot over multiple recycles must be minimized (e.g., >300 cycles expected) or when consistent profile repeatability across shifts is required.

For lead abatement or heavy paint removal on steel structures, when is JETgrit® a better fit than METgrain® or METgrit®, and vice versa?

JETgrit® (synthetic iron abrasive with high density ~7.5–8.0 g/cm³ and hard, irregular/angular particle shape) is a better fit for lead abatement or heavy paint removal on steel structures when limited recyclability is advantageous, such as in scenarios prioritizing containment of hazardous lead-laden residues to avoid cross-contamination across cycles. Classified as a one-use (or 1–3 recycle) abrasive, it enables straightforward disposal of spent media under RCRA hazardous waste protocols (minimizing long-term accumulation of lead in recycled batches), while delivering faster cleaning speeds and lower abrasive consumption rates due to its optimized particle fracturing and cutting efficiency. It meets SSPC AB-1 Type II standards and CARB certification for low-toxicity, making it ideal for regulated lead projects in confined spaces or with strict waste segregation requirements. Vice versa, METgrain® and METgrit® (chilled iron formulations, ~7.8 g/cm³ density, with semi-angular/rounded or sharp angular shapes) are better when high recyclability (hundreds to thousands of cycles, e.g., 500–2,000+ with magnetic separation and cleaning) is essential for cost minimization and waste reduction in non-lead or low-hazard heavy paint removal. Their multi-use nature lowers long-term media costs (e.g., $0.05–$0.10/lb per cycle amortized) and supports sustainable operations under general environmental regulations, but they require robust decontamination (e.g., via HEPA filtration and chemical testing) in lead jobs to prevent residue buildup over extended reuse.

If dust minimization is the top priority (e.g., indoor or confined-space blasting), which of your metallic abrasives (METgrain®, METgrit®, JETgrit®) performs best, and why?

METgrain® and METgrit® perform best when dust minimization is the top priority in indoor or confined-space blasting. As true metallic abrasives (steel-based for METgrain®, chilled iron-based for METgrit®), they exhibit extremely low friability and breakdown rates, allowing them to be recycled hundreds to thousands of times (typically 500–2,000+ cycles in properly maintained closed-loop systems with magnetic separation and air-wash classification) while generating virtually no additional fines or respirable dust from particle fracture. Their durable, high-hardness particles (~40–62 HRC) maintain integrity under repeated high-velocity impacts, producing primarily the initial low-dust baseline from surface removal rather than ongoing media degradation. This results in significantly lower airborne dust levels over the job duration compared to non-metallic or short-life abrasives, with dust often limited to <1–2% fines generation per cycle when using automated recovery. JETgrit® (synthetic iron abrasive) is less suitable for strict dust minimization in these scenarios because it is designed as a one-use or limited-recycle (1–3 cycles) product. Its hard, angular particles fracture and break down more readily after initial impacts to deliver high initial cleaning efficiency (faster strip rates and lower consumption per pass), but this controlled breakdown generates increasing fines and respirable dust as the media wears out quickly. While JETgrit® starts with low free silica (<0.1%) and can perform well in short-duration or heavily contained jobs, the progressive particle degradation makes it inferior for sustained low-dust performance in multi-cycle confined-space operations.

When blasting softer substrates or requiring a finer/controlled anchor pattern (e.g., aluminum or pre-paint prep), should I lean toward one metallic abrasive over the others?

For softer non-ferrous substrates (aluminum, stainless, copper alloys) or when a finer, more uniform anchor pattern (e.g., 0.8–1.5 mil / 20–40 µm for epoxy primers) is required, METgrain® is the preferred choice. Its rounded-to-semi-angular morphology delivers peening-like action with lower risk of embedding or over-profiling that could initiate fatigue cracks in aluminum. METgrit®'s sharper edges risk excessive cutting or galling on soft metals. Use lower pressures (60–80 psi) with METgrain® G25–G50 grades for best control. JETgrit® can be utilized for delicate prep with lower pressures when a one-use abrasive is sufficient.

For high-production environments where fastest strip rate matters most, which product — METgrain®, METgrit®, or JETgrit® — typically delivers the edge?

METgrit® typically delivers the edge in high-production environments (e.g., wheel-blast yards or large-scale air-blast operations processing >10,000 ft²/shift) where the absolute fastest strip/cleaning rate is the primary driver. As a chilled iron grit formulation, METgrit® offers higher hardness (typically ~58–65 HRC) compared to METgrain® (steel-based, often ~40–55 HRC), resulting in more aggressive cutting action from its sharp, angular particles that maintain fresh cutting edges through initial fracturing. This translates to superior initial penetration and removal efficiency on tough contaminants like heavy mill scale, thick rust layers, multilayer coatings, or stubborn paint—often achieving 20–40% faster surface feet per hour or per pass in equivalent setups (e.g., higher ft²/hour at 90–110 psi nozzle pressure or wheel speed). The harder chilled iron excels in aggressive, high-velocity applications requiring rapid material removal without excessive dwell time. METgrain® is competitive in sustained high-volume wheel-blast scenarios due to its mass and lower friability for consistent long-run performance, but it yields slightly slower strip rates on the toughest jobs compared to the sharper/harder METgrit®. JETgrit® can deliver very high initial speeds via its fracturing design, but its limited 1–3 cycle life makes it less ideal for true high-production continuity where media replenishment downtime or consistent performance across shifts matters. Choose METgrit® when raw speed trumps recyclability in demanding, high-throughput blasting.

Ordering & Logistics

What packaging options are available?

Products are typically available in:

• Super sacks (bulk bags) or paper bags (Foundry Sand Additives)

• Drums (Abrasives)

• Custom packaging upon request

What is your typical lead time?

Lead times vary by product and order volume. Most standard products ship within standard production windows. Contact us for current availability.

Do you offer product trials?

Yes. We frequently support controlled plant trials so customers can measure defect reduction and ROI before full implementation. Please email us at info@chesprod.com for more information on trials.

ENvironmental

Is SphereOx® environmentally friendly?

SphereOx® products are designed to improve casting efficiency, which can reduce scrap, energy use, and waste. CSP prioritizes responsible manufacturing practices.

Quality & Support

Is CSP ISO certified?

Yes, CSP maintains rigorous quality management systems to ensure product consistency and traceability.

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Do you provide ongoing technical support?

Yes. Our team works directly with foundry engineers and production managers to optimize performance and troubleshoot challenges. To reach our technical team, please email info@chesprod.com fand we will connect you.