Without any metal surface preparation, the entire process might not provide people with the desired results. Surface preparation for coating is a dynamic process that allows fellows to ensure that the material is ready for layer or for adhering to another exterior for further application. For example, a compromised dirty or oily exterior will reduce the effectiveness of the new coat. Moreover, it can fail adhesion and fail other processes.
With surface preparation for coating, one will be sure that there is perfect mechanical bonding, welding, or adhesion that might not result in problems in the future. Moreover, it can help reduce the risk of corrosion or mechanical damage.
Below are the stages one will have to follow for a successful coat.
Assessing the Exterior Condition
Before starting any preparation work, the first step is to check and assess the present exterior condition. You can use various standards like BS EN ISO 8501-1 or others to help you with your assessment. These standards can help you with details of different rust grades ranging from A to D for the steel surface. In addition, it can help you determine if preparation will help and the proper technique for you to use.
Removal of Previous Coat
Another major step requires people to ensure that they remove any old coating that is present on the exterior before they move ahead with a new layer. The new coat will have problems like bubbling, flaking, and others without removing the old coating.
Remove Exterior Contaminants Like Oils, Acids, and Others
Removing the old coating is one of many things you must do before starting the new one. You should also remove other substances like oils, chlorides, acids, and other foreign contaminants that can restrict your new coat or cause any damage.
Folks may need to clean the facet of these parts that may crumble later. They can use techniques like abrasive blasting or others to help remove rust, scale, and other loose parts. Thus, it will also help bond strength between the new layer and the existing facet.
Ensure the Profiling
Once you remove or clear any loose material or foreign particulate, you must profile the exterior. When you are working on a new coating, it might require you to have a new exterior profile rather than the existing one. Having a correctly profiled facet will allow you to ensure that there is proper adhesion and bonding between the facet and the new coating.
Dry the Facet Properly
The new coating will show the best result if you dry the facet properly. Having wet surfaces can result in the formation of pinholes during the curing process. Wet surfaces can result in the evaporation of moisture from the surface and can result in the formation of small holes. It can hurt the overall utility and lifespan of the surface. While you can use a second layer to cover these holes, they also hurt the surface. It can result in flash corrosion and, thus, faster wear and tear.
Interesting Things About Surface Preparation
- A few applications are manufacturing metal products, smoothening the edges of metal casters, etc.
- The standards used for blast cleaning apply to surface preparation.
- Dial gauge, comparator panel, and replica tape are a few methods of assessing metal surfaces.
- Typical media types for preparation are steel grit, steel shot, aluminum oxide, etc.
Surface Preparation for Coating: Final Thoughts
Coating the surface is a critical process that ensures it looks aesthetically pleasing and protects it from rust and corrosion. Therefore, proper surface preparation before the coating is of the utmost importance. Following the steps highlighted above can help you extract the best results while prolonging the life of the material.
