A study of the effect of surface pre-treatment on the adhesion of coatings

This paper deals with the study of effects of mechanical surface preparation on the adhesion of coating with high content of zinc dust. Five kinds of mechanically blasted surfaces were studied. The following were used as abrasives: steel shot, steel grit, brown corundum oxide and zirblast. The last surface type was modified by MBX Blaster technology (mechanical bristle blasting). The surfaces topography was quantified by a roughness profilometer. The shape and size of the incurred inequalities on the modified surfaces were studied using 3D microscope images of the surface. The purity of the surfaces after pre-treatment was evaluated by impurity glued on the tape and measuring the reflection of light from the surface. Fractal analysis was used to evaluate the diversity of inequalities on the prepared surfaces. Cross-sections were also taken of the prepared surfaces. The prepared surfaces were coated with zinc-filled coating. The adhesion of the coating to the substrate was evaluated by a pull-off test after curing the coating (as sprayed), as well as after exposure to severe corrosive environments. The best adhesion of the coating was found for the coating applied to the substrate which had been pre-treated with brown corundum and steel grit.