Patent Application
20190032218
This disclosure generally relates to the use of fasteners to secure two or more structures or workpieces (at least one of which is made of composite material, such as fiber-reinforced plastic) in a manner such that high interference fit of the fasteners within their respective holes in the structures is achieved. In particular, this disclosure relates to interference fit fastener assemblies comprising a bolt or a pin and a mating part (e.g., a nut or a collar) and not including a sleeve surrounding the fastener.
Normal practice for fastening multiple layers of material together is to clamp up the layers, drill holes, and then insert some type of fastener into the holes and thereby secure the layers together. The fasteners are usually inserted in a net or clearance fit in the receiving holes in the layers. For many applications, this will be sufficient. However, when the assembled structure is subjected to cyclic loading, the looseness of the fit of the fasteners within their holes will result in continual working of the fasteners within their holes. This in turn may lead to fretting and fatigue issues with either the fastener or the surrounding region of the layers adjacent a particular hole.
To solve the foregoing problems, it is known that the utilization of an interference fit of the fastener (hereinafter “interference fit fastener”) in the hole can effectively prevent the majority of this fretting due to cyclic loading of the assembled structure. High interference creates a tighter joint that reduces movement, resulting in enhanced fatigue performance. Additionally, interference fit fasteners can help ensure safe dissipation of electrical current as part of a lightning strike protection scheme by minimizing arcing across gaps caused by non-interference fit fasteners. In many cases an oversized fastener will be driven directly into the receiving hole in the layers. Typically, some lubricant is applied to the fastener and hole before assembly to reduce the tendency toward abrasion as the fastener is pushed into the hole. For example, some portion of the fastener may be coated with a material having a lubricity greater than that of the surface of the portion of the interference fit fastener that contacts the hole. The coating could, for example, be aluminum pigment coating, solid interface film lubricant or metallic plating (cadmium plate, zinc-nickel, etc.). This coating could have an additional lubricant such as cetyl alcohol applied thereon.
Aluminum pigment coatings (for example, HI-KOTE™ from LISI Aerospace, Torrance, Calif., U.S.A. or INCOTEC 8G™ from Innovative Coatings Technology Corp., Mojave, Calif., U.S.A.) typically adhere to fasteners made of titanium alloy or corrosion-resistant steel with less than optimal adhesive strength, which can result in corrosion. Prior to applying an aluminum pigmented coating to a portion of the surface of an interference fit fastener, the following pretreatments are used: (1) grit blasting with aluminum mesh; and (2) etching with acid. Although grit blasting promotes acceptable adhesion, the surface roughness of the fastener is high. As a result, when installing (pushing or riveting) fasteners into interference fit holes, the coating tends to be removed due to the less than optimal adhesive strength as the coated surface comes in contact with the hole. Since the bare surface has been grit blasted, the surface roughness creates friction, resulting in higher insertion loads and potential damage to the structure. Although the parts that are etched have a smoother surface roughness condition than grit-blasted parts, these parts do not have adequate adhesion characteristics and do not meet performance targets.
In view of the foregoing, a process that increases the adhesive strength of solid lubricant adhered to portions of the surface of an interference fit fastener subject to installation force loads would be desirable.
The subject matter disclosed in some detail below is directed to a method for treating surfaces of fasteners made of titanium alloy or corrosion-resistant steel using a sol-gel pretreatment process prior to the application of an aluminum pigment coating. (The term “sol-gel”, a contraction of solution-gelation, refers to a series of reactions where a soluble metal species (typically a metal alkoxide or metal salt) hydrolyzes to form a metal hydroxide.) The sol-gel pretreatment process can be used instead of grit-blasting or etching. The sol-gel pretreatment process aids in improving adhesion and surface roughness when fasteners are used in interference fit conditions (i.e., the hole diameter is smaller than the fastener shank diameter).
In accordance with some embodiments, a surface (e.g., a shank surface) of an interference fit fastener is treated so that at least a portion of that surface has solid lubricant adhered thereto with sufficient adhesive strength to withstand the forces exerted on the solid lubricant during insertion of the fastener into a hole with interference fit. In accordance with the embodiments disclosed below, the enhanced adhesive strength is due to the formation of an interface film between the fastener surface and the layer of solid lubricant, which interface film is formed on the fastener surface using a sol-gel process. The sol-gel process improves the adhesion between the solid lubricant (e.g., an aluminum pigmented coating) that coats a surface of the interference fit fastener (e.g., a bolt or a pin) and improves the surface roughness of the fastener.
The sol-gel process is a method for producing solid materials from small molecules. In the sol-gel process, a solution forms a gel-like diphasic system containing liquid and solid phases. In accordance with one embodiment, the morphology of the gel-like diphasic system is a continuous polymer network. More specifically, the fastener surface is treated by applying a liquid sol-gel layer. The sol-gel layer is then allowed to form a thin xerogel interface film through loss of solvent (e.g., water). (As used herein, the term “xerogel” is a solid formed from a gel by drying with unhindered shrinkage.) The sol-gel process is attended by a decrease in porosity of the layer as it forms the interface film. The eventual thickness, porosity and surface area of the xerogel interface film may be controlled through judicious selection of solvent system, concentration, viscosity and thickness of the sol-gel layer.
In accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein, the interface film is an organometallic-based network system. In accordance with one embodiment, the starting solution is an aqueous-based solution with about 2% solids, containing an epoxy-functional silane (e.g., 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane) and an organometallic chemical compound (e.g., zirconium butoxide).
As used herein, the term “colloidal material” means material in the form of a colloid. The term “colloid” identifies a broad range of solid-liquid (and/or liquid-liquid) mixtures, all of which contain distinct solid (and/or liquid) particles which are dispersed to various degrees in a liquid medium. The term is specific to the size of the individual particles, which are larger than atomic dimensions but small enough to exhibit Brownian motion.
Although various embodiments of methods for treating a surface of an interference fit fastener will be described in some detail below, one or more of those embodiments may be characterized by one or more of the following aspects.
One aspect of the subject matter disclosed in detail below is a fastener surface treatment method comprising the following steps: (a) applying a pre-gel solution on a surface of the fastener, which pre-gel solution is capable of converting into colloidal material (i.e., a xerogel interface film), which colloidal material in turn is capable of converting into an interface film (e.g., a thin interface film) upon removal of liquid solvent from the solution, wherein the interface film comprises an organometallic-based network system; (b) allowing the colloidal material to cure either at room temperature or at a higher temperature (produced by heating the fastener in an oven); (c) after the colloidal material has cured, applying a coating material on top of the colloidal material over at least a portion of a surface of a shank of the fastener, wherein the coating material comprises a metal powder dissolved in liquid solvent; and (d) curing the coating material to form a solid coating that is adhered to the fastener by means of the interface film. In accordance with one embodiment of the foregoing method, the organometallic-based network system comprises an epoxy-functional silane, an organometallic chemical compound and a corrosion inhibitor, while the metal powder in the coating material comprises aluminum particles.
Another aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein is a method for fastening a first structure having a first hole and a second structure having a second hole, the first and second holes having a same hole diameter, comprising: (a) applying a pre-gel solution on a surface of a fastener, which pre-gel solution is capable of converting into colloidal material, which colloidal material in turn is capable of converting into an interface film upon removal of liquid solvent from the solution, wherein the fastener comprises a head, a shank and a mating portion, the shank having a shank diameter greater than the hole diameter, and the interface film comprises an organometallic-based network system; (b) applying a coating material on at least a portion of a surface of the shank of the fastener after step (b) has been completed, wherein the coating material comprises a metal powder dissolved in liquid solvent; (c) curing the coating material to form a solid coating that is adhered to the fastener by means of the interface film; (d placing the first and second structures together with the first and second holes aligned; (e) forcing the fastener into and through the aligned holes of the first and second structures until the mating portion projects beyond the second structure, in which position the shank is in contact with the first and second holes; and (f) coupling a mating part to the mating portion of the fastener.
A further aspect is an assembly comprising: a first structural element having a first hole; a second structural element having a second hole aligned with the first hole of the first structural element, the first and second holes having a same hole diameter; a fastener made of titanium alloy or corrosion-resistant steel and comprising a head, a shank having an outer diameter greater than the hole diameter, and a mating portion comprising external projections, wherein the shank occupies at least respective portions of the first and second holes in the first and second structural elements without a surrounding sleeve, and the mating portion extends beyond the second structural element; a solid coating that is adhered to at least a portion of the shank of the fastener by means of an interface film, wherein the solid coating comprises aluminum and the interface film comprises an organometallic-based network system; and a mating part that abuts the second structural element and is coupled to the mating portion of the fastener. In accordance with one embodiment, the organometallic-based network system comprises an epoxy-functional silane and an organometallic chemical compound. The interface film is applied on a surface of the shank of the fastener using a sol-gel process.
In accordance with another embodiment of the assembly described in the preceding paragraph, the solid coating covers first and second longitudinal stripe-shaped surface areas on the shank to form first and second longitudinal stripes of solid coating having an uncoated longitudinal stripe-shaped surface area on the shank disposed therebetween.
Other aspects of improved interference fit fasteners coated with solid lubricant material having improved adhesive strength are disclosed below.
The features, functions and advantages discussed in the preceding section can be achieved independently in various embodiments or may be combined in yet other embodiments. Various embodiments will be hereinafter described with reference to drawings for the purpose of illustrating the above-described and other aspects.
Reference will hereinafter be made to the drawings in which similar elements in different drawings bear the same reference numerals.
Various embodiments of an interference fit fastener will now be described in detail for the purpose of illustration. At least some of the details disclosed below relate to optional features or aspects, which in some applications may be omitted without departing from the scope of the claims appended hereto.
In particular, illustrative embodiments of interference fit fasteners for attaching two structures to each other are described in some detail below. In the examples given below, one of the structures is made of metallic material (e.g., a metal alloy) and the other structure is made of composite material (e.g., fiber-reinforced plastic). However, in alternative examples, both structures can be made of composite material or both structures can be made of metallic material. In addition, it should be appreciated that the concept disclosed herein also has application in the attachment of three or more structures together. Each interference fit fastener comprises a head, a shank and a mating portion having external projections. In accordance with some embodiments, the interference fit fastener further comprises a tapered lead-in section between the shank and the mating portion. This tapered lead-in geometry decreases installation forces in interference fit holes by promoting gradual compression of material as the bolt is pushed through the structures to be fastened. However, it should be appreciated that the adhesive strength-enhancing process disclosed herein may also be applied in the surface treatment of interference fit fasteners which do not have lead-in sections of the type described herein.
In accordance with some embodiments, the fastener comprises a bolt and the mating part comprises a nut having internal threads that are interengaged with the external projections of the mating portion of the bolt. In accordance with other embodiments, the fastener comprises a pin and the mating part comprises a collar that is interengaged with the external projections of the mating portion of the pin.
As used herein, the category “mating parts” comprises internally threaded nuts and collars and swaged collars. As used herein, the category “fasteners” comprises bolts and pins. As used herein, the term “external projections” should be construed broadly to encompass at least the following types: (1) external threads and (2) external annular rings. Examples of fasteners having externals threads are described below. However, the concepts disclosed and claimed herein also have application to interference fit fasteners having external annular rings.
To facilitate bolt insertion into a hole with an interference fit, the shank 6 is connected to a linearly tapered lead-in section 10. As previously mentioned, the surface of shank 6 is circular cylindrical. In contrast, the surface of the linearly tapered lead-in section 10 is conical and extends from a minimum diameter to a maximum diameter. The surfaces of the shank 6 and linearly tapered lead-in section 10 meet at an intersection 22 which is circular, the diameter of that circle being equal to the diameter of the shank surface and equal to the maximum diameter of the surface of the linearly tapered lead-in section 10. The linearly tapered lead-in geometry of the linearly tapered lead-in section 10 promotes gradual compression of material as the bolt 2 is pushed through the structures to be fastened. In alternative embodiments, the tapered lead-in section can have a radiused (i.e., arc-shaped) profile instead of a linear (i.e., straight) profile.
To further facilitate bolt insertion into a hole, at least portions of the surfaces of the shank 6 and the linearly tapered lead-in section 10 can be provided with a coating that has lubricant properties.
As previously mentioned, bolt 2 is made of titanium alloy or corrosion-resistant steel. Aluminum pigment coatings typically adhere to fasteners made of titanium alloy or corrosion-resistant steel with less than optimal adhesive strength. To increase the adhesive strength, the aluminum pigmented coating 14 is adhered to the surface of the fastener by means of an interface film (not visible in
In accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein, the interface film is an organometallic-based network system. In accordance with one embodiment, the starting solution is an aqueous-based solution with about 2% solids, containing an epoxy-functional silane (e.g., 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane) and an organometallic chemical compound (e.g., zirconium butoxide). The resulting interface film is a mixed Zr/Si oxide system. In addition, a corrosion inhibitor (such as inhibitors derived from rare earth salts or thiol) can be included in the starting solution.
In accordance with some embodiments, the interface film 12 covers the entire surface of the bolt 2. The portion of interface film 12 that covers the head 4 of bolt 2 will produce better paint adhesion in cases where the head 4 is to be painted. The portion of interface film 12 that covers the mating portion 8 of bolt 2 will provide further corrosion protection. The portion of interface film 12 that covers the shank 6 and optionally a portion of the linearly tapered lead-in section 10 of bolt 2 will enable the aluminum pigmented coating 14 to effectively adhere to the surface of bolt 2 with enhanced adhesive strength.
After the interface film 12 has been applied to the fastener, the aluminum pigmented coating 14 is applied on top of at least a portion of the interface film 12. Any suitable approach, such as dipping, spraying, or brushing, can be used. In accordance with one approach, the solution of coating material is sprayed onto the fastener pre-treated with interface film. Much of solvent is removed from the as-applied coating material by drying or flash curing, either at ambient or slightly elevated temperature, for a relatively short period of time, so that the coated fastener is dry to the touch for handling purposes. The coated fastener is however not suitable for service at this point, because the aluminum pigmented coating 14 is not sufficiently adherent to the alloy base metal and because the coating itself is not sufficiently coherent to resist mechanical damage that may occur in service. The aluminum pigmented coating 14 is subsequently and properly cured at elevated temperature for a period of time. On fasteners made of titanium alloy or corrosion-resistant steel, the coating material preferably has a thickness of 0.0002-0.0005 inch after curing. After curing, a supplemental lubricant such as cetyl alcohol may be applied to the entire fastener. Supplemental lubricant is applied to the coated fastener by a dipping process. After the dipping process, the fastener is subsequently and properly cured either at room temperature or slightly elevated temperature, to remove the solvent and allow for handling.
A wide variety of curable organic coating materials containing aluminum are available. A typical and preferred curable organic coating material has phenolic resin mixed with one or more plasticizers, other organic components such as polytetrafluoroethylene, and inorganic additives such as aluminum powder. These coating components are preferably dissolved in a suitable solvent present in an amount to produce a desired application consistency. In accordance with some embodiments, the coating material is dissolved in a solvent that is a mixture of ethanol, toluene, and methyl ethyl ketone. A typical sprayable coating solution has about 30 wt. % ethanol, about 7 wt. % toluene, and about 45 wt. % methyl ethyl ketone as the solvent; and about 2 wt. % strontium chromate, about 2 wt. % aluminum powder, with the balance being phenolic resin and plasticizer as the coating material. A small amount of polytetrafluoroethylene may optionally be added. One suitable coating is HI-KOTE™ 1, which is commercially available from LISI Aerospace. The HI-KOTE™ 1 coating material is typically cured at an elevated temperature between 350-450° F. for 1 hour to 4 hours. U.S. Pat. No. 7,655,320 disclosed the results of an analysis of an as-sprayed HI-KOTE™ 1 coating. The heavier elements were present in the following amounts by weight: Al, 82.4%; Cr, 2.9%; Fe, 0.1%; Zn, 0.7%; and Sr, 13.9%. However, the formulation of HI-KOTE™ 1 coatings has changed over time as chromates have been replaced with environmentally friendly alternatives.
A coated interference fit fastener such as bolt 2 (seen in
During installation, a manual rivet gun or automated system can be used to hammer the bolt 2 into aligned holes of the structures to be fastened. In accordance with one embodiment, the tapered lead-in section 10 tapers gradually toward the mating portion 8 and has a taper angle equal to or less than 20 degrees, while the shank 6 is circular cylindrical and has a diameter greater than the diameter of the first and second holes. It is customary to define the “amount of interference” as being equal to one-half of the difference between the shank diameter and the hole diameter.
In accordance with one embodiment, the tapered lead-in section 10 has a maximum diameter equal to the diameter of shank 6 and a minimum diameter which is less than the diameters of the first and second holes. The bolt 2 will be pushed into the aligned interference holes of the structures to be fastened until the mating portion 8 projects beyond the last structure. As previously mentioned, the geometry of the tapered lead-in section 10 promotes gradual compression of material in the first and second structures as the bolt 2 is pushed through. A mating part (not shown in
The bolt installation process described in the preceding paragraph can be used to fasten structures made of similar or different materials. For example,
Optionally, the surface of the fastener can be etched in an acid solution (pH 6 or less) (step 54) or refined using chemically accelerated vibratory finishing (step 68) subsequent to cleaning (step 52) and prior to applying the pre-gel solution (step 56). The optionality of the etching step 54 and the vibratory finishing step 68 are indicated by dashed arrows in
All of steps 52, 54, 56 and 58 can be performed concurrently on a multiplicity of fasteners, for example, by placing the multiplicity of fasteners in a basket (not shown), dipping the basket into various baths (for cleaning step 52, etching step 54 and applying pre-gel solution step 56), and then placing the basket in an oven (for curing step 58). Vibratory finishing can be performed concurrently on a multiplicity of fasteners using technology commercially available from REM Chemicals Inc., Southington, Conn.
After the colloidal material has cured, an aluminum pigmented coating material is applied on top of the colloidal material (step 60) over at least a portion of a surface of shank 6 of the fastener. The coating material comprises aluminum powder dissolved in liquid solvent. In alternative embodiments, the coating material may comprise other metal powder dissolved in liquid solvent. The coating material may be applied by spraying it onto at least a portion of the surface of the shank. For example, the coating material may be applied continuously or discontinuously (see
The preferred bolts are manufactured from any one of several titanium alloys or corrosion-resistant stainless steel alloys. As used herein, the term “corrosion-resistant steel” means that the metallic material is an austenitic, martensitic, or ferritic stainless steel. Although the aerospace industry uses fasteners made from all types of stainless steels, the 300 series austenitic types are most widely used in the fabrication of components or fasteners. The alloys in this austenitic group have at least 8% nickel in addition to chromium. They offer a greater degree of corrosion resistance than the martensitic and ferritic types, but less resistance to chloride stress-corrosion cracking. Martensitic and ferritic stainless steels contain at least 12% chromium, but contain little or no nickel because it stabilizes austenite. Martensitic grades, such as Types 410 and 416, are magnetic and can be hardened by heat treatment. Ferritic alloys, such as Type 430, are also magnetic but generally cannot be hardened by heat treatment, but rather develop maximum ductility, toughness, and corrosion resistance in the annealed and quenched condition. Therefore, the only heat treatment applied to the ferritic alloys is annealing.
While interference fit fasteners having shanks at least partially coated with solid lubricant material have been described with reference to various embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the claims set forth hereinafter. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt the teachings herein to a particular situation without departing from the scope of the claims.
Furthermore, the surface treatment process disclosed herein is not limited in its application to fasteners and instead is more broadly applicable. More specifically, the surface treatment disclosed herein may be applied to screws, bolts, lockbolts, pins, rivets, etc., which may have external threads or grooves (i.e., annular rings), as well as female mating components such as nuts, lock washers, collars, etc.
