Term: Surface Preparation

Category: Chemistry

Definition: General term describing the various methods of preparing a material’s surface through mechanical, chemical, or physical means to achieve the best performance from coatings, adhesives, or treatments.

Properly preparing a surface will ensure that the contaminants, oxides, and residuals are removed and also will increase the surface roughness and energy of that surface, thereby increasing the wettability and bonding of the substrate.

Surface Preparation Techniques:

• Grit (abrasion) blasting
• Alkaline washing
• Sanding
• Chemical etching
• Plasma treatment
• etc. 

Common Uses: 

• Preparing metal, polymer, or glass surfaces for hydrophilic or protective coatings
• Enhancing adhesion in medical devices, implants, and packaging materials

Related Content and Resources: 

Medical Device Surface Preparation For a Hydrophilic Coating