Surface preparation: power beams clean up

Examines the use of power beams to prepare surfaces prior to adhesive bonding. Describes the current surface treatments available and discusses their limitations. Outlines how power beam techniques for surface modification of polymeric and metallic adherends has the potential to overcome many of these problems. Also looks at the emerging technology of using radiation‐curable adhesives based on ultraviolet, visible light and electron beams, which have the advantages of fast rates of cure, improved quality of finished products and the absence of any volatile organic compounds.