Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich
Preparation of the substrate surfaces prior to adhesive bonding is mandatory stage of the bonding process.
The stages of surface preparation performed prior to adhesive bonding:
Proper degrease provides good wetting of the substrate with the adhesive material. Clean substrate surfaces enhance formation of intermolecular and chemical bonding between the substrate and adhesive molecules.
At this stage the following contaminants are removed from the substrate surface: mineral oils (Rust protection oils, Cutting fluids (coolants), greases, etc.), miscellaneous organic soils (paints, animal lubricants and vegetable lubricants, fingerprints).
The most popular degrease technologies are:
Roughened (abraded) substrate surfaces provide better bonding strength due to interlocking the adhesive material in the surface micro-voids.
Abrading also removes oxides, scale, smut, rust, paints and other solid contaminants from the surface.
Abrading techniques:
Etching by acids (acid activation) and priming are used for additional cleaning, activation and chemical modification of substrate surfaces.
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The substrate surface may be modified and activated by physical methods: