Sol-Gel Coating as a Surface Pretreatment Process for Adhesive Bonding of Aluminum Alloys

The wide application of aluminum alloys as structural materials requires that the surface of the aluminum be pretreated for bonding and corrosion resistance. Traditional surface pretreatment of aluminum alloys involves use of hazardous chemicals such as hexvalent chromium and large amounts of water. In this research, an environmentally benign aluminum alloys surface pretreatment process has been developed. The new process produces a high quality pretreated surface which has strong adhesive bonding and good corrosion resistance. In addition to the benefit for the environment, the new process is simple, low-cost and energy-saving.