Method for microtexturizing and bonding two surfaces
AssigneeVought Aircraft Industries, Inc.
InventorJames A. Clarke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for adhesively bonding two adherends to each other. The process includes directing a laser beam having characteristics substantially equivalent to a free electron laser to a respective surface of each of a first and/or second adherend to effectuate ablation of any organic and halogenated residues present on the surfaces, to glaze each surface, to form a substantially stable oxide layer thereon, and to microtexturize each surface such that a roughened surface with a tailored topography is formed on each surface. Thereafter, an adhesive is applied to at least one roughened surface and the two roughened surfaces are placed against each other such that the adhesive bonds the adherends along these respective roughened surfaces and provides a high-strength, long-term durability in most environments.
Claims20
A process for adhesively bonding a metal adherend to a second adherend, the process comprising:
- a) providing a first metal adherend and a second adherend, each having a respective surface to be joined to the other respective surface;
- b) providing a laser beam;
- c) directing the laser beam to the metal adherend surface for a time and intensity sufficient to effectuate ablation of any organic and halogenated residues present on the surface, to glaze said surface, to form a substantially stable metal oxide layer thereon, and to microtexturize said surface such that a roughened surface is formed;
- and
- d) applying an adhesive to the one roughened surface and placing the one roughened surface against the second adherend such that the adhesive bonds the metal and second adherends to each other along their respective surfaces.
A process for adhesively bonding two metal adherends to each other, the process comprising:
- a) providing a first adherend and a second adherend, each having a respective surface to be joined to the other respective surface;
- b) providing a laser beam;
- c) directing the laser beam to each respective surface for a time and intensity sufficient to effectuate ablation of any organic and halogenated residues present on the surfaces, to glaze each said surface, to form a substantially stable metal oxide layer thereon, and to microtexturize each said surface such that a roughened surface is formed on each surface;
- and
- d) applying an adhesive to at least one roughened surface and placing the two roughened surfaces against each other such that the adhesive bonds the adherends to each other along their respective roughened surfaces.
A process for adhesively bonding titanium adherends to each other, the process comprising:
- a) providing a first titanium adherend and a second titanium adherend, each having a respective surface to be joined to the other respective surface;
- b) providing a laser beam;
- c) directing the laser beam to each respective surface for a time and intensity sufficient to effectuate ablation of any organic and halogenated residues present on the surfaces, to glaze each said surface, form a substantially stable rutile TiO2 oxide layer thereon, and to microtexturize each said surface such that a roughened surface is formed on each surface;
- and
- d) applying an adhesive to at least one roughened surface and placing the two roughened surfaces against each other such that the adhesive bonds the titanium adherends to each other along their respective roughened surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.