Pre-treatment by dry ice blasting for adhesive bonding

In recent years, the constant development of adhesives and coatings has contributed to the establishment of the adhesive and coating technology in several fields. Based on findings in macro-molecular chemistry, the cohesive strength, e.g. the internal strength of adhesives, has been enhanced continuously. In contrast to the adhesive strength, the mechanical, chemical and physical adhesion, the cohesive strength is relatively strong. As a consequence, adhesion is usually the weakest link of an adhesive bond, thus, most often it is adhesive fracture that can be observed. Pre-treatment and the use of so-called coupling reagents represent an approach to improve the adhesive strength. The paper presents dry ice blasting as a pre-treatment process and a process model with which the reasons for the increased adhesive strength can be clarified. With respect to the relevant blasting parameters, the effects of a pre-treatment with dry ice blasting on roughness, surface topography, specific surface, mechanical activation, surface energy and chemical composition depending on relevant parameters have been determined.