# 4.3.2 Mechanical Cleaning

> From: LOCTITE®X Digital Manual for Bonding (https://www.loctitex.com/en/manuals/bonding/4.3.2-mechanical-cleaning/)

#### 4.3.2 Mechanical Cleaning

Mechanical cleaning methods are highly effective for surface preparation prior to bonding. They are also used to increase roughness and surface area for increased bond strength. Mechanical cleaning should be preceded and followed by solvent or aqueous cleaning to prevent oils and other contaminants from being driven deeper into the surface by abrasion and to clean up loose particles and lingering contaminants afterward.

_Figure 83 Best practice surface preparation steps when mechanically abrading_

![Figure 83 Best practice surface preparation steps when mechanically abrading](/en/manuals/bonding/assets/img/adhesive-surface-preparation-best-practice.jpg)

There are many techniques for mechanical cleaning: by hand with sandpaper, steel wool or a wire rush or applied as a batch-cleaning with particle blasting methods.

_Figure 84 Surface preparation with contaminated media can impact bond strength_

![Figure 84 Surface preparation with contaminated media can impact bond strength](/en/manuals/bonding/assets/img/surface-preparation-grit-blasting-contamination-adhesive1.jpg)

![Figure 84 Surface preparation with contaminated media can impact bond strength](/en/manuals/bonding/assets/img/surface-preparation-grit-blasting-contamination-adhesive2.jpg)

![Figure 84 Surface preparation with contaminated media can impact bond strength](/en/manuals/bonding/assets/img/surface-preparation-grit-blasting-contamination-adhesive3.jpg)

![Figure 84 Surface preparation with contaminated media can impact bond strength](/en/manuals/bonding/assets/img/surface-preparation-grit-blasting-contamination-adhesive4.jpg)