Method of surface preparation of aluminum substrates
AssigneeThiokol Corporation
InventorsRussell A. Crook, Larry W. Poulter, Kenneth J. Schulte, James W. Sinclair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surface preparation process has been developed for aluminum and aluminum alloy substrates that greatly improves the resulting bond. The process improves bond strength, fracture toughness, durability and failure mode of adhesive bonds. The process also decreases the sensitivity of aluminum substrates to processing variables such as humidity, temperature and hence the processing timelines. The process involves treating an aluminum surface with a solution of an alkali metal metasilicate, and subsequently treating the surface with a solution of an organofunctional silane. Employing this two step process, bonding to the aluminum substrate is improved.
Claims29
A process for preparing an aluminum or aluminum alloy surface for bonding comprising the steps of:
- treating an aluminum or aluminum alloy surface with an aqueous solution of a silicate;
- and
- subsequently treating the surface with an aqueous solution of a silane, which solution is devoid of crosslinking agent of said silane.
A process for preparing an aluminum or an aluminum alloy surface for bonding comprising the steps of:
- treating an aluminum or an aluminum alloy surface with a solution consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of at least one alkali metal metasilicate;
- and
- subsequently treating the surface with a solution consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of at least one organofunctional silane.
A method for bonding together a pair of metal surfaces comprising the steps of:
- obtaining at least two pieces of metal, wherein at least one of the metals is an aluminum or an aluminum alloy, each piece of metal having at least one bonding surface;
- treating the metal surfaces to be bonded with an aqueous solution of metasilicate;
- subsequently treating the surfaces to be bonded with an aqueous solution of organofunctional silane, wherein said solution does not contain a crosslinking agent for said silane;
- placing an adhesive on at least one of the metal surfaces to be bonded;
- and
- bringing the other surface to be bonded into contact with the adhesive.
A process for preparing an aluminum or an aluminum alloy surface for bonding comprising the steps of:
- treating an aluminum or an aluminum alloy surface with an aqueous solution consisting essentially of at least one silicate;
- and
- subsequently treating the surface with an aqueous solution consisting essentially of at least one silane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.