US 6,037,060 A · Sol for bonding expoxies to aluminum or titanium alloys

Abstract

A surface treatment for titanium and aluminum alloys forms a sol-gel film covalently bonded on the metal surface to produce strong, durable adhesive bonds between the metal and an organic adhesive without using toxic chemicals and while significantly reducing or eliminating rinse water requirements of traditional anodizing or etching processes. An aqueous sol containing an alkoxyzirconium and a glyddoxysilane with an organic acid catalyst and zirconium stabilizer is applied to etched or grit blasted substrates by dipping, spraying, or drenching, to produce bonds in a single application comparable in strength and performance to standard anodize controls. Parameters affecting performance include the sol composition, the Si/Zr ratio, the ratio of sol ingredients, the concentration of the sol, the carrier solvent, solution age, catalysts, surface pretreatment, application method, curing process, and primer used.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A sol suitable for surface treatment of a metal for improving adhesion, comprising:

a) a dilute sol having about 1 vol % of an alkoxyzirconium in a carrier containing alcohol, wherein the zirconium in the sol covalently bonds to the metal to form a metal-to-organic interface on the metal surface;
b) about 2 vol % of a glycidoxysilane coupling agent dissolved in the carrier and adapted for covalently bonding through the glycidoxy moiety with an epoxy adhesive;
and
c) an effective amount of an organic acid, if the carrier contains water, for acting as a catalyst and as a hydrolysis rate stabilizer for the alkoxyzirconium.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sol for bonding expoxies to aluminum or titanium alloys

Life of this patent

Sol for bonding expoxies to aluminum or titanium alloys

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9