Surface treatment for aluminum alloys
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsPeter Babilo, Giuseppe Russo
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides methods for enhancing adhesion between an additively manufactured aluminum alloy and an epoxy primer. The methods include performing a surface preparation process on a metal substrate including an aluminum alloy including a columnar structure including an α-aluminum matrix at least partially surrounded by a silicon phase. The methods include dispersing a sol-gel on a surface of the metal substrate. The methods include dispersing a primer on the sol-gel to form a sol-gel coating on the metal substrate.
Claims20
A method for enhancing adhesion between an additively manufactured aluminum alloy substrate and an epoxy primer, the method comprising:
- performing a surface preparation process on the additively manufactured aluminum alloy substrate comprising an aluminum alloy comprising a columnar structure comprising an α-aluminum matrix at least partially surrounded by a silicon phase, wherein performing the surface preparation process comprises grit blasting the additively manufactured aluminum alloy substrate with about 140 grit to about 360 grit aluminum oxide at a pressure of about 20 psi to about 60 psi;
- dispersing a sol-gel on a surface of the additively manufactured aluminum alloy substrate, wherein the sol-gel comprises a glycidoxy-silane;
- and
- dispersing the epoxy primer on the sol-gel, wherein dispersing the sol-gel to the surface of the additively manufactured aluminum alloy substrate occurs after about 1 hour to about 18 hours after performing the grit blasting on the additively manufactured aluminum alloy substrate.
A method for enhancing adhesion between an additively manufactured aluminum alloy substrate and a primer, the method comprising:
- grit blasting the additive manufactured aluminum alloy substrate comprising aluminum alloy comprising a columnar structure comprising an α-aluminum matrix at least partially surrounded by a silicon phase;
- dispersing a sol-gel on a surface of the grit blasted aluminum alloy substrate, wherein dispersing the sol-gel to the surface of the grit blasted aluminum alloy substrate occurs after about 1 hour to about 18 hours after performing the grit blasting;
- and
- dispersing the primer on the sol-gel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.