Carbide Tooling Coating preparation
Clean, reactive and controlled surface preparation for strong and uniform coating adherence
Wet blasting prepares surfaces and gives them the ideal characteristics for follow on coating applications.
The process is best utilised before the coating process, due to its inherent process benefits.
Wet Blasting Pre & Post Coat treatment for Carbide Tooling
Wet blasting is the preferred pre and post coat surface treatment for manufacturers looking to PVD/CVD coat their components. This is most commonly employed for cutting tools.
Improved Adhesion: Wet blasting can effectively clean and prepare substrate surfaces, removing contaminants, oxides, and residues. This enhances the adhesion of PVD or CVD coatings by providing a clean and uniform surface for deposition.
Surface Profiling: Wet blasting can create a controlled surface profile by roughening the substrate. This textured surface enhances the mechanical bonding of PVD or CVD coatings, ensuring better adhesion and a more uniform coating thickness.
Removal of Oxides and Scale: For metallic substrates, wet blasting can be useful in removing oxides, scale, and other surface impurities that might hinder the quality of PVD or CVD coatings. This ensures a clean and reactive surface for coating deposition.
Reduced Contamination Risk: Wet blasting helps minimize the risk of contamination by removing oils, grease, and other contaminants from the substrate. Contamination during PVD or CVD coating processes can lead to defects and decreased coating performance.
Enhanced Surface Cleanliness: Wet blasting is effective in removing particulate matter, dust, and loose debris from the substrate surface. This cleanliness is crucial for PVD and CVD processes, where even small contaminants can impact coating quality.
Uniform Coating Thickness: A properly prepared surface through wet blasting contributes to the uniform deposition of PVD or CVD coatings. Inconsistencies in the substrate surface can lead to uneven coating thickness, affecting the performance and appearance of the final coating.
Increased Coating Durability: The combination of proper surface preparation and the subsequent PVD or CVD coating will result in a more durable and long-lasting coating. This is important in applications where the coated components are exposed to wear, corrosion, or other environmental factors.
Improved Surface Finish: Wet blasting contributes to achieving a desired surface finish before PVD or CVD coating. Depending on the specific requirements, the wet blasting process can be adjusted to create a smoother or textured surface as needed.
Versatility in Substrate Materials: Wet blasting is compatible with various substrate materials, including metals, ceramics, and some polymers. This makes it a versatile choice for preparing a wide range of materials before PVD or CVD coating.
Benefits of wet blasting for Carbide Tooling Coating preparation
Wet blasting can have several benefits when it comes preparing surfaces for coatings. Some advantages associated with using wet blasting for achieving specific surface finishes are:
Controlled Surface Texture: Wet blasting allows for precise control over the surface texture or roughness. By adjusting parameters such as abrasive type, water pressure, and nozzle distance, operators can achieve the desired level of roughness for a given application.
Consistent Results: Wet blasting provides more consistent and uniform results compared to some dry blasting methods. This is important for applications where a consistent surface roughness is critical for performance, such as in manufacturing or engineering processes.
No Media Embedment: Wet blasting helps minimize abrasive embedment into the surface being treated. This is particularly beneficial for softer materials or sensitive substrates where avoiding damage or deformation is essential.
Surface Cleaning and Smoothing: Wet blasting not only removes contaminants and unwanted materials from surfaces but also helps in smoothing uneven surfaces. This can be advantageous when preparing surfaces for coatings, ensuring better adhesion and a more uniform finish.
Selective Material Removal: The wet blasting process allows for selective material removal, enabling operators to focus on specific areas or features while maintaining the overall surface integrity. This precision is crucial in applications where controlled material removal is required.
Heat Reduction: Wet blasting generates less heat compared to dry blasting methods. This is important when dealing with heat-sensitive materials, as it helps prevent thermal damage while achieving the desired surface roughness.
No Dust: Wet blasting removes airborne dust, providing a cleaner and safer working environment. This is advantageous for both operator health and environmental considerations, especially in industrial settings where dust control is a concern.
Surface Profile for Coating Adhesion: Achieving the right surface roughness is critical for proper coating adhesion. Wet blasting creates a surface profile that promotes better adhesion, ensuring coatings adhere effectively to the substrate.
Environmental Considerations: Wet blasting is generally considered more environmentally friendly than dry blasting methods, as it reduces the release of abrasive dust and contaminants into the air. This is particularly important in areas where environmental regulations are stringent.
When using wet blasting for coating applications, it's essential to consider the specific requirements of the coating system, the characteristics of the substrate, and environmental and safety considerations. Proper equipment, abrasive media, and process parameters should be selected to achieve the desired coating performance.
Process Driven Solutions for Carbide Tooling Coating prep
Our aim is to work with you and supply you the process and solution(s) to meet your requirements.
Our equipment is designed to best utilise our process to meet your requirements. By utilising our years of experience and process knowledge, and combining it with our automated technology, we can provide a complete solution that delivers control and consistency to give you the perfect finish every time.
Contact us to discuss your requirements, and how we can work with you. Or have a look at our solution pages for more information.
We also design and manufacture washing equipment which in many cases complements our wet blasting solutions.
In many applications we have implemented solutions that incorporate both blasting and washing in a one step process which can remove handling steps and increase efficiency.