# US 11,306,397 B2 · Aqueous solution for metal surface treatment, treatment method for metal surface, and joined body

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- Number: US 11,306,397 B2
- Document ID: US11306397B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/099,841
- Filed: 2017-05-10
- Published: 2019-06-13
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-05-10
- Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
- Applicants: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
- Inventors: Yusuke Takahashi; Satoru Takada
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306397B2

## CPC

- C23C 22/56: Treatment of aluminium or alloys based thereon
- B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
- B32B 15/08: of synthetic resin
- B32B 15/20: comprising aluminium or copper {(B32B15/016 and B32B15/017 take precedence)}
- C23C 22/00: Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals
- C23C 22/06: using aqueous acidic solutions with pH less than 6
- C23C 22/68: using aqueous solutions with pH between 6 and 8
- C23C 2222/20: Use of solutions containing silanes
- C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM

## Abstract

An aqueous solution for metal surface treatment includes an alkyl silicate or an oligomer thereof in a concentration of 0.005 mass % or more and less than 1 mass %, and an organic silane compound in a concentration of 0.005 mass % or more and less than 1 mass %. The aqueous solution has a pH of 2 or more and 7 or less.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An aqueous solution, comprising:
an alkyl silicate or an oligomer thereof in a concentration of 0.005 mass % or more and less than 1 mass %; and
an organic silane compound in a concentration of 0.005 mass % or more and less than 1 mass %,
wherein the aqueous solution has a pH of 2 or more and 7 or less, and
wherein the organic silane compound comprises a silane compound containing a plurality of hydrolyzable trialkoxysilyl groups in a molecule, a hydrolyzed product of the silane compound, or a polymer derived from the silane compound.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The solution of claim 1, wherein the alkyl silicate or oligomer thereof is present in a concentration of 0.01 mass % or more and less than 0.5 mass %.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The solution of claim 1, wherein the alkyl silicate or oligomer thereof is present in a concentration of 0.02 mass % or more and less than 0.2 mass %.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The solution of claim 1, which is substantially free of a particulate inorganic compound having a diameter of 1 nm or more.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The solution of claim 1, wherein the organic silane compound is present in a concentration of 0.01 mass % or more and less than 0.5 mass %.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The solution of claim 1, wherein the organic silane compound is present in a concentration of 0.02 mass % or more and less than 0.2 mass %.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The solution of claim 1, wherein the pH of the aqueous solution is in a range of from 2 to 6.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The solution of claim 1, wherein the organic silane compound comprises the silane compound containing a plurality of hydrolyzable trialkoxysilyl groups in a molecule.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The solution of claim 1, further comprising, as a stabilizer, at least one selected from the group consisting of an alcohol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a carboxylic acid having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The solution of claim 1, wherein the organic silane compound comprises a silane coupling agent containing a reactive functional group capable of chemically bonding with an organic resin component, a hydrolyzed product of the silane coupling agent, or a polymer derived from the silane coupling agent.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A method for treating a metal surface with the aqueous solution of claim 1, the method comprising:
applying the aqueous solution onto a surface of a metal to form a surface treatment layer so that the surface treatment layer after drying is present in an amount of 0.5 mg/m2 or more and 20 mg/m2 or less.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the metal is an aluminum alloy.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A bonded article, comprising:
metal articles treated with the aqueous solution of claim 1; and
an adhesive resin through which the metal articles bond with each other.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A bonded article, comprising:
a metal article treated with the aqueous solution of claim 1;
a resin molded article; and
an adhesive resin through which the metal article and the resin molded article bond with each other.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The solution of claim 1, wherein the organic silane compound comprises the hydrolyzed product of the silane compound.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The solution of claim 1, wherein the organic silane compound comprises the polymer derived from the silane compound.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The solution of claim 1, wherein the silane compound contains two hydrolyzable trialkoxysilyl groups in a molecule.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The solution of claim 1, wherein the silane compound contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a bis(trialkoxysilyl)ethane, bis(trialkoxysilyl)benzene, bis(trialkoxysilyl)hexane, bis(trialkoxysilylpropyl)amine, bis(trialkoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide, and mixture of two or more of any of these.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The solution of claim 1, further comprising:
an acid consisting of at least one of a carboxylic acid having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, or hydrofluoric acid, the solution comprising no further acid.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The solution of claim 1, further comprising:
an acid consisting of at least one of formic acid, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, or hydrofluoric acid, the solution comprising no further acid.