Preparation methods for adhesive bonding of 7xxx aluminum alloys, and products relating to the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020141006-A1
Application number	US-201916725129-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 23, 2019
Priority date	Jun 28, 2017
Publication date	May 7, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A preparation method for adhesive bonding of magnesium-containing aluminum alloy products includes a magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product including a matrix and a surface oxide layer overlying the matrix. The magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product also includes intermetallic particles at least proximal the surface oxide layer. The method also includes ablating at least some of the intermetallic particles via an energy source, and in the absence of melting of the matrix of the magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
(a) receiving a magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product, wherein the magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product comprises a matrix and a surface oxide layer overlying the matrix;
(i) wherein the surface oxide layer comprises an as-received thickness;
(ii) wherein the magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product comprises intermetallic particles at least proximal the surface oxide layer; and
(iii) wherein the intermetallic particles comprise Cu-bearing intermetallic particles; and
(b) ablating at least some of the intermetallic particles and in the absence of melting of the matrix of the magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ablating step comprises volatilizing the intermetallic particles.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, after the ablating step, the magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product comprises an ablated portion having a plurality of ablation voids proximal the surface oxide layer.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the intermetallic particles define pre-ablation volumes, and wherein, due to the ablating, at least some of the plurality of ablation voids are greater in volume than the pre-ablation volumes.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the intermetallic particles have a size of from 100 nm to 10 μm.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ablating step comprises maintaining the surface oxide layer at the as-received thickness.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface oxide layer comprises MgO.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein, after the ablating step, the surface oxide layer comprises at least 10 atomic % Mg.

9 . The method of claim 1 , comprising selectively ablating at least some of the intermetallic particles during the ablating step, thereby creating an ablated portion surrounded by an unablated portion.

10 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
(a) determining locations of the intermetallic particles; (b) selectively ablating at least some of the located intermetallic particles during the ablating step.

11 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
determining at least one bonding location associated with the magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product; and after the determining step, completing the ablating step relative to the at least one bonding location, thereby creating an ablated portion.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein, after the ablating step, the magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product comprises the ablated portion surrounded by an unablated portion.

13 . The method of claim 12 , comprising, after the ablating step, contacting the magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product with a functionalization solution.

14 . The method of 12 , comprising selectively contacting the ablated portion with a functionalization solution, thereby creating a pretreated portion of the magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the selectively contacting step comprises restricting contact between the unablated portion and the functionalization solution.

16 . A magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product comprising an outer surface;
wherein the outer surface comprises a first zone and a second zone;
wherein the first zone comprises a plurality of ablation pits;
wherein the second zone is absent of ablation pits.

17 . The magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of ablation pits are absent of copper plating.

18 . The magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product of claim 17 , wherein:
the first zone is absent of Cu-bearing intermetallic particles; and the second zone comprises Cu-bearing intermetallic particles.

19 . A magnesium-containing aluminum alloy sheet product comprising an upper surface and a lower surface;
wherein the upper surface of the magnesium-containing aluminum alloy sheet product comprises a surface oxide layer disposed on an aluminum alloy matrix;
wherein the surface oxide layer comprises an MgO portion;
wherein the surface oxide layer comprises Al 2 O 3 portion;
wherein the MgO portion is at least partially disposed on the Al 2 O 3 portion;
wherein the surface oxide layer is absent of copper-bearing intermetallic particles;
wherein the magnesium-containing aluminum alloy sheet product comprises a plurality of ablation pits;
wherein the plurality of ablation pits are proximal the surface oxide layer;
wherein the plurality of ablation pits are proximal the aluminum alloy matrix;
wherein the plurality of ablation pits are absent of copper plating.

20 . The magnesium-containing aluminum alloy sheet product of claim 19 , wherein the upper surface comprises a functionalization layer;
wherein the functionalization layer is disposed on the surface oxide layer; wherein the surface oxide layer is disposed on a matrix of the magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product;
wherein the matrix of the magnesium-containing aluminum alloy product is disposed between the upper surface and lower surface of the magnesium-containing aluminum alloy sheet.

Assignees

• Arconic Inc

Inventors

• Epp June M
• Unal Ali

Classifications

• C23C22/56 Primary

  Treatment of aluminium or alloys based thereon · CPC title

• B23K26/361

  for deburring or mechanical trimming (B23K26/351 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23K2103/10

  Aluminium or alloys thereof · CPC title

• C23C22/73

  characterised by the process · CPC title

• C09J5/02

  involving pretreatment of the surfaces to be joined · CPC title