liekkikovetus

Liekkikovetus is a term used in Finnish-language contexts to denote a flame treatment of a material surface. The word combines liekki, meaning flame, with koetus or testitila meaning treatment or testing. In practice, liekkikovetus refers to exposing a surface to a controlled flame with the aim of altering its chemical or physical properties, often to improve adhesion or prepare the surface for additional coatings.

The process is most commonly discussed in materials science and surface engineering. Through controlled flame exposure, surfaces can experience oxidation, dehydration, or minor carbonization, which may change surface energy, roughness, and wettability. Depending on the material and flame parameters, liekkikovetus can either increase substrate adhesion for subsequent coatings or modify friction and wear characteristics. It is sometimes used as a preliminary step before painting, plating, or bonding.

Methods and equipment for liekkikovetus range from handheld gas-flame applications to automated flame-treating rigs. Key variables include flame type, fuel gas, temperature, distance from the surface, exposure time, and shielding. Safety considerations are important due to open flames, high temperatures, and the risk of surface damage or warping for thin or heat-sensitive materials.

Applications vary by industry but commonly include metal finishing, glass and ceramic processing, and polymer surface preparation. The technique is one option among several surface-treating methods, such as plasma, corona, or laser treatments, with choice guided by material type, required surface properties, and production constraints.

See also: flame treatment, surface finishing, adhesion improvement, thermal oxidation.