Bristle Blasting as Surface Preparation for Thermal Spraying

Thermal spray coatings, including thermal spray aluminium (TSA) for offshore corrosion protection, are mechanically anchored: they hold only as well as the profile beneath them. This 2019 study examines bristle blasting as the substrate preparation for thermal spraying.

Download the full paper (PDF) ↓

Why is preparation critical for thermal spray?

Unlike liquid coatings, sprayed metal particles bond mechanically to the roughened substrate. Insufficient profile means poor adhesion regardless of spray quality. Specifications therefore demand both a cleanliness grade and a defined anchor profile before spraying.

What does the study examine?

Whether a bristle-blasted surface provides an adequate foundation for thermal spray adhesion, compared with the grit-blasted surfaces the industry defaults to; relevant wherever blasting is impractical: on-site repair of TSA, confined areas, and in-service maintenance.

Where is this applied?

TSA repair on offshore structures is the leading case: MontiPower documents TSA surface preparation in its verified removals, and the Bristle Blaster is used for exactly this scope on platforms and vessels. Read the full study for the adhesion data.

Related

• Marine & offshore surface preparation
• Subsea preparation