I have some team members in my company that think it is OK to blast aluminum to remove the glazing before welding using a roto blaster with steel shot. I have told them that they are impregnating steel in the aluminum and when this is welded to the 5052 material you will have contamination in the weld. Does anyone out there have a definitive answer on this matter?
You are right on the button!!! "Correctomundo - PERIOD!!!"
First of all, as soon as they hit it with steel shot, there's going to be contamination via impregnation, and even if most of the surface oxide layer (Not Glaze) is removed and the aluminum underneath is exposed to the atmosphere, corrosion will begin... The only difference is that the oxidized layer formed on the surface will not be as thick as before unless it's permitted to be exposed to a longer period of time.
You can use this to remove the surface oxide layer:
Sorry I can't give you more leads but, my pasta has been boiling and the one thing I can't stand is some soft pasta... I always prefer "Al Dente" instead!!! ;) ;) ;)