Adhesive strength depends on the surface beneath it. Dust, oil, moisture, oxidation, release agents and weak coatings can prevent wetting or cause the bond to separate from the material.
| Material | Recommended preparation |
|---|---|
| Timber and MDF | Remove dust and weak fibres. Machine or sand to produce clean, closely fitting surfaces. Confirm suitable timber moisture. |
| Steel | Remove oil, rust, scale and loose coating. Abrade to expose a clean, sound surface, then degrease. |
| Aluminium | Degrease, lightly abrade and remove residue. Bond promptly because the oxide layer reforms. |
| Coated metal | Clean and abrade without removing a sound coating. The completed bond cannot be stronger than the coating’s attachment. |
| Fibreglass and composites | Remove wax, mould-release residue and contamination. Abrade without cutting into reinforcing fibres. |
| Rubber and PVC | Use a cleaner compatible with the material, then abrade where specified. Test plasticised PVC for plasticiser effects. |
| Foam | Remove dust without crushing the surface. Test cleaners and solvent-based adhesives for softening or damage. |
| Concrete | Remove laitance, curing compounds, sealer and weak material. The surface must be sound and suitable for the adhesive. |
Cleaning removes contamination; abrasion increases sound bonding area. Clean before abrasion so oil is not driven into the surface. When solvent cleaning is permitted, wipe with a clean solvent-wet cloth and remove contamination with a second clean cloth before evaporation.
Remove all sanding dust and allow cleaners to evaporate. Do not touch prepared surfaces with bare hands. Check temperature, moisture and condensation, then apply the adhesive within the preparation window stated in its data sheet.
Test the actual production materials, including primers, paints and surface treatments. A successful test should identify whether failure occurs within the adhesive, at the interface, inside the material or through an existing coating.