roughen

Roughen is a verb meaning to make something rough or rougher; to alter a surface so that it has more irregularities or a coarser texture. The term can describe processes that create abrasion, irregularities, or micro-texture on a material’s surface. Roughening can be intentional, to improve adhesion or bonding, or it can occur as a byproduct of wear.

In manufacturing, roughening is a deliberate surface treatment used to enhance the adhesion of coatings, paints, adhesives, or deposited layers. Common methods include mechanical abrasion (sandblasting, sanding, grinding), chemical etching or acid treatments, and more advanced approaches such as plasma, laser, or shot-peening techniques. The choice of method depends on the base material, the desired roughness profile, and the subsequent processing steps. Roughened surfaces increase mechanical interlocking and can also alter wettability, friction, or heat transfer properties.

Roughen can function as both a transitive verb and a noun form roughening. The phrase roughen up is a common idiom meaning to make something more rough or to prepare something for a following process. In language, the word’s origin lies in the adjective rough plus the verbal suffix -en, forming a verb that means to cause roughness.

See also: surface roughness, texture, abrasion, adhesion.