After a surface has been abrasion blasted and/or machined a thin layer of molybdenum, nickel-chromium alloys or nickel aluminide can be spayed before the final detonation spray coating to improve the bond strength. This is known as a bond coating. Bond coatings are often used when spray coating materials of ceramic composites are being applied. The component may need to be machined and/or abrasion blasted slightly deeper for the purpose of allowing space for the bond coating and spray coating to fit flush on the component surface.
Areas that are not to be sprayed must be covered in stop-off chemicals (chemicals that stop the spay from bonding) or tape. The chemicals and tape are then removed after the coating has cooled.