Composite materials are now central to defence and aerospace programmes, particularly for composite drone blades, aircraft propeller blades and helicopter rotor blades where strength, weight and reliability are critical.
But performance isn't simply about the material itself. It's also about how the surface is prepared before bonding, painting or coating.
When composite blades leave the autoclave, they are often left with a waxy, hydrophobic residue. This causes paints, lacquers and adhesives to bead on the surface, limiting coverage and reducing bond strength.
Wet blasting addresses this challenge directly.
By using water to buffer the abrasive media, wet blasting removes surface residues while protecting the carbon fibres beneath. The process creates a hydrophilic or ‘wet-out’ surface, allowing liquids to fully spread and adhere rather than repel.
For composite drone blades, propeller blades and helicopter rotor blades, the advantages are significant:
• Produces a consistent ‘wet-out’ surface for maximum adhesive and coating coverage
• Improves bonding performance and shear strength
• Prevents fibre damage that can occur with sanding, brushing or dry blasting
• Effectively treats complex blade geometries and leading edges
• Offers high process control and repeatability
This combination of surface quality and fibre protection is why wet blasting is frequenty specified across defence and aerospace manufacturing and MRO operations.
As composite blade designs continue to evolve across unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and rotary aircraft, surface preparation is no longer a secondary process. It is a critical contributor to long-term performance and reliability.
