Metal surface treatment.
The susceptibility of various metals to corrosion has been extensively studied. One field where this is particularly important is the aircraft or airline industry. The exterior of most aircraft are made primarily of metal material, particularly aluminum and titanium. In order to improve the corrosion resistance of metal component parts, particularly, an exterior surface of metal component parts, conversion coatings have been developed. Conversion coatings are generally electrolytic or chemical films that promote adhesion between the metal and adhesive resins. A common electrolytic process is anodization in which a metal material is placed in an immersing solution to form a porous, micro rough surface into which an adhesive can penetrate. Chemical films for treating titanium or aluminum include phosphate-fluoride coating films for titanium and chromate conversion films for aluminum.
Painting of metal surfaces is also of important commercial interest. In the aircraft or airline industry, the exterior metal surface of many commercial and government aircraft are painted at considerable expense. Techniques have been developed, through the use, for example, conversion coatings or sol gel processes to improve the adhesion of paints, particularly, urethane coatings that are common in the aircraft applications. With respect to sol gel coatings, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,789,085; 5,814,137; 5,849,110; 5,866,652; 5,869,140; 5,869,141; and 5,939,197 describe sol gel technologies, particularly zirconium-based sol gel technologies for treating metal surfaces to improve corrosion resistance and adhesion, particularly, paint adhesion.
With respect to metal panels that make up an aircraft, sol gel coatings such as those described in the above-referenced patents have been shown to improve adhesion of epoxy-based and polyurethane paints.
Most panels (e.g., metal panels) that make up, for example, the body of an aircraft are held together by fasteners, particularly rivets. Such fasteners, particularly, the exposed surface of such fasteners must meet corrosion resistance standards mandated by aircraft manufacturers. The fasteners must also be able to maintain a coating, such as a paint (e.g., epoxy-based, polyurethane, polyimide) that may be utilized on the panels that make up the aircraft. One problem that has been identified is that paint that otherwise adheres acceptably to the exterior surfaces of aircraft panels, does not acceptably adhere to the fasteners (e.g., rivets) that join the panels. The condition where paint adherence failure occurs with fasteners in the aircraft industry is known as rivet rash.
In addition to paint adherence, metal panels in the aircraft or airline industry must meet certain corrosion resistance standards. One corrosion resistance standard for conversion coatings of aluminum is a salt spray test in accordance with MIL-C-5441. According to this standard, the chemical conversion coated panels undergo salt spray exposure for a minimum of 168 hours and must show no indication of corrosion under examination of approximately 10× magnification. Although not specifically stated in the MIL-C-5541 standard, aircraft manufacturers often require that fasteners such as rivets meet certain corrosion resistance standards. One aircraft manufacturer standard for rivets is a salt spray exposure for a minimum of 48 hours without indication of corrosion.
Features, aspects, and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become more thoroughly apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings in which:
A method of coating a metal surface is described. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a first layer including a chemical conversion coating on a metal surface and forming a second layer on the first layer through a sol gel process (e.g., a sol gel film). The method is useful, for example, in treating metal surfaces, particularly surfaces of metal (e.g., aluminum, titanium) fasteners to improve the corrosion resistance and the adhesion properties of the fastener for further treatment, such as for painting.
An apparatus is also described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a metal component, such as an aluminum or titanium fastener (e.g., rivet) having at least one surface. The at least one surface of the metal component includes a first layer comprising a chemical conversion coating and a second layer derived from a sol gel composition on the first layer. Through the use of a first and second layer, the adhesion properties of the metal component may be improved, particularly, for paint adherence to the at least one surface.
Referring to
In addition to first layer 140, fastener 100 shown in
Referring to
Following the deoxidization of a metal surface or surfaces, a conversion coating is introduced (block 320) to the metal surface or metal surface of the rivet(s). For an aluminum rivet, a chemical conversion coating, such as ALCHROME 2™, is applied in accordance with MIL-C-5541. Suitable techniques for introducing chemical conversion coating of ALCHROME 2™ include immersion, spraying, or drenching the metal surface in a solution of the chemical conversion coating material. In the example of rivets as fasteners, a number of rivets may be placed in a basket, such as a perforated metal basket, and immersed in a chemical conversion coating solution for 1.5 minutes.
Following the introduction of a conversion coating, the rivet(s) is/are double rinsed in successive water baths and dried, such as by exposing the rivet to a centrifugal or other drying process, including a standing air dry process. The rivet(s) is/are then brought to room temperature if necessary. Within a specified period, such as within 24 hours, a sol gel film is introduced on an exterior surface of the rivet. Suitable ways for introducing a sol gel film include immersion coating, spraying, and drenching the rivet(s) in a sol gel solution (block 330). In the example where a sol gel coating is applied by immersing, representatively the rivet(s) is/are immersed in a solution including a sol gel for a period of a few to several minutes. In one embodiment, the rivet(s) is/are immersed in a solution including a sol gel for two to three minutes. During immersion, the sol gel solution may be agitated to improve the coating uniformly. The rivet(s) is/are then removed from a sol gel coating solution and centrifuged to remove excess sol get solution (e.g., centrifuged in a DESCO™ centrifuge for 30 seconds).
Once a sol gel coating is applied to a rivet(s), the sol gel coating is cured (block 340). In one embodiment, a curing process includes heating the rivet in a preheated oven to a cured temperature. A cure temperature for the sol gel coating solution described above commercially available from Advanced Chemistry and Technology includes exposing the rivet(s) including the sol gel coating to a preheated oven at a 130° F.±10° F. for a sufficient time, typically on the order of 45 to 90 minutes. The following table illustrates curing times for curing a number of rivets at one time (e.g., a number of rivets as a layer in a perforated tray).
Following curing of a layer formed by sol gel process (e.g., a sol gel film), the rivet(s) is/are cooled and a surface of the rivet(s) is/are ready for a coating. Representatively, an epoxy, polyurethane, or polyimide coating may be applied to the surface containing the sol gel film (block 350).
In the preceding paragraphs, specific embodiments are described. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/411,629, filed Apr. 11, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,837, issued May 11, 2004.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10411629 | Apr 2003 | US |
Child | 10768218 | US |