Abstract: Methods of preparing 7xxx aluminum alloy products for adhesive bonding and products made therefrom are disclosed. Generally, the methods include preparing a 7xxx aluminum alloy product for anodizing, then anodizing the 7xxx aluminum alloy product, and then contacting the anodized 7xxx aluminum alloy product with an appropriate chemical to create a functionalized layer. The new 7xxx aluminum alloy products may realize improved shear bonding performance.

Abstract: Methods of preparing 7xxx aluminum alloy products for adhesive bonding and products made therefrom are disclosed. Generally, the methods include preparing a 7xxx aluminum alloy product for anodizing, then anodizing the 7xxx aluminum alloy product, and then contacting the anodized 7xxx aluminum alloy product with an appropriate chemical to create a functionalized layer. The new 7xxx aluminum alloy products may realize improved shear bonding performance.

Abstract: Methods of preparing 7xxx aluminum alloy products for adhesive bonding and products made therefrom are disclosed. Generally, the methods include preparing a 7xxx aluminum alloy product for anodizing, then anodizing the 7xxx aluminum alloy product, and then contacting the anodized 7xxx aluminum alloy product with an appropriate chemical to create a functionalized layer. The new 7xxx aluminum alloy products may realize improved shear bonding performance.

Abstract: Methods of preparing 7xxx aluminum alloy products for adhesive bonding are disclosed. Generally, the methods include chemical and/or mechanically preparing a 7xxx aluminum alloy product to reduce the amount of magnesium oxides while maintaining any copper-containing intermetallic particles located proximal the surface of the 7xxx aluminum alloy product. After preparation, a functionalized layer may be produced thereon for adhesive bonding.

Abstract: Methods for preparing an aluminum alloy sheet product for adhesive bonding are disclosed. A method may include preparing an aluminum alloy product for roll coating and roll coating an aqueous functionalization solution onto the prepared aluminum alloy product. For the roll coating step, the aqueous functionalization solution may include from 0.1 to 5.0 wt. % of active ingredients. The active ingredients may include a first monomer component and a second polymer component. The amount of second polymer component in the aqueous functionalization solution may be greater than an amount of the first monomer component in the aqueous functionalization solution.

Abstract: Methods of preparing 7xxx aluminum alloy products for adhesive bonding and products made therefrom are disclosed. Generally, the methods include preparing a 7xxx aluminum alloy product for anodizing, then anodizing the 7xxx aluminum alloy product, and then contacting the anodized 7xxx aluminum alloy product with an appropriate chemical to create a functionalized layer. The new 7xxx aluminum alloy products may realize improved shear bonding performance.

Abstract: Methods of preparing 7xxx aluminum alloy products for adhesive bonding are disclosed. Generally, the methods include chemical and/or mechanically preparing a 7xxx aluminum alloy product to reduce the amount of magnesium oxides while maintaining any copper-containing intermetallic particles located proximal the surface of the 7xxx aluminum alloy product. After preparation, a functionalized layer may be produced thereon for adhesive bonding.

Abstract: Described herein is a continuous coil pretreatment process used to treat the surface of an aluminum alloy sheet or coil for subsequent deposition of an acidic organophosphorus compound. The process can include applying a cleaner to a surface of an aluminum sheet or a coil; etching the surface of the aluminum sheet or the coil with an acidic solution; rinsing the surface of the aluminum sheet or the coil with deionized water; applying to the surface of the aluminum sheet or the coil a solution of an acidic organophosphorus compound; rinsing the surface of the aluminum sheet or the coil with deionized water; and drying the surface of the aluminum sheet or the coil.

Abstract: Metal sheets and plates having friction-reducing textured surfaces and methods of manufacturing these metal sheets and plates are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, there is provided a transportation vessel that includes at least one metal product having at least one surface that is substantially grooved, wherein the substantially grooved surface forms a riblet topography, the riblet topography including a multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets running along at least a part of the surface, and wherein the riblet topography is coated with at least one coating sufficiently designed and applied to preserve the riblet topography. In an embodiment, the multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets results in a friction-reducing textured surface. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of an aircraft. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of a rotor blade.

Abstract: Metal sheets and plates having friction-reducing textured surfaces and methods of manufacturing these metal sheets and plates are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, there is provided a transportation vessel that includes at least one metal product having at least one surface that is substantially grooved, wherein the substantially grooved surface forms a riblet topography, the riblet topography including a multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets running along at least a part of the surface, and wherein the riblet topography is coated with at least one coating sufficiently designed and applied to preserve the riblet topography. In an embodiment, the multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets results in a friction-reducing textured surface. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of an aircraft. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of a rotor blade.

Abstract: Metal sheets and plates having friction-reducing textured surfaces and methods of manufacturing these metal sheets and plates are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, there is provided a transportation vessel that includes at least one metal product having at least one surface that is substantially grooved, wherein the substantially grooved surface forms a riblet topography, the riblet topography including a multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets running along at least a part of the surface, and wherein the riblet topography is coated with at least one coating sufficiently designed and applied to preserve the riblet topography. In an embodiment, the multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets results in a friction-reducing textured surface. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of an aircraft. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of a rotor blade.

Abstract: Metal sheets and plates having friction-reducing textured surfaces and methods of manufacturing these metal sheets and plates are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, there is provided a transportation vessel that includes at least one metal product having at least one surface that is substantially grooved, wherein the substantially grooved surface forms a riblet topography, the riblet topography including a multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets running along at least a part of the surface, and wherein the riblet topography is coated with at least one coating sufficiently designed and applied to preserve the riblet topography. In an embodiment, the multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets results in a friction-reducing textured surface. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of an aircraft. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of a rotor blade.

Abstract: Metal sheets and plates having friction-reducing textured surfaces and methods of manufacturing these metal sheets and plates are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, there is provided a transportation vessel that includes at least one metal product having at least one surface that is substantially grooved, wherein the substantially grooved surface forms a riblet topography, the riblet topography including a multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets running along at least a part of the surface, and wherein the riblet topography is coated with at least one coating sufficiently designed and applied to preserve the riblet topography. In an embodiment, the multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets results in a friction-reducing textured surface. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of an aircraft. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of a rotor blade.

Abstract: Self-cleaning aluminum alloy substrates and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a substrate is provided, the substrate including an aluminum alloy body, an anodic oxide zone having micropores within a surface of the aluminum alloy body, the anodic oxide zone being substantially impermeable to contaminants, and a photocatalytic film located on at least a portion of the anodic oxide zone, wherein the photocatalytic film comprises photocatalytically active semiconductor. In one embodiment, a method is provided, the method including the steps of forming an anodic oxide zone in at least a portion of an aluminum alloy base, forming a photocatalytic film, the photocatalytic film being located on the anodic oxide zone, and sealing the anodic oxide zone with a sealant, wherein, as sealed, the anodic oxide zone is substantially impermeable to contaminants.

Abstract: Self-cleaning aluminum alloy substrates and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a substrate is provided, the substrate including an aluminum alloy body, an anodic oxide zone having micropores within a surface of the aluminum alloy body, the anodic oxide zone being substantially impermeable to contaminants, and a photocatalytic film located on at least a portion of the anodic oxide zone, wherein the photocatalytic film comprises photocatalytically active semiconductor. In one embodiment, a method is provided, the method including the steps of forming an anodic oxide zone in at least a portion of an aluminum alloy base, forming a photocatalytic film, the photocatalytic film being located on the anodic oxide zone, and sealing the anodic oxide zone with a sealant, wherein, as sealed, the anodic oxide zone is substantially impermeable to contaminants.

Abstract: Metal sheets and plates having friction-reducing textured surfaces and methods of manufacturing these metal sheets and plates are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, there is provided a transportation vessel that includes at least one metal product having at least one surface that is substantially grooved, wherein the substantially grooved surface forms a riblet topography, the riblet topography including a multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets running along at least a part of the surface, and wherein the riblet topography is coated with at least one coating sufficiently designed and applied to preserve the riblet topography. In an embodiment, the multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets results in a friction-reducing textured surface. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of an aircraft. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of a rotor blade.

Abstract: Self-cleaning aluminum alloy substrates and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a substrate is provided, the substrate including an aluminum alloy body, an anodic oxide zone having micropores within a surface of the aluminum alloy body, the anodic oxide zone being substantially impermeable to contaminants, and a photocatalytic film located on at least a portion of the anodic oxide zone, wherein the photocatalytic film comprises photocatalytically active semiconductor. In one embodiment, a method is provided, the method including the steps of forming an anodic oxide zone in at least a portion of an aluminum alloy base, forming a photocatalytic film, the photocatalytic film being located on the anodic oxide zone, and sealing the anodic oxide zone with a sealant, wherein, as sealed, the anodic oxide zone is substantially impermeable to contaminants.

Abstract: A weather-resistant polymeric coating is applied to an aluminum alloy body by coating a surface portion of the body with a primer composition comprising a vinylphosphonic acid-acrylic acid copolymer to form a primer layer, followed by coating the primer layer with a weather-resistant polymeric coating composition. The aluminum alloy body preferably comprises an aluminum alloy extrusion containing an alloy of the AA5000 or AA6000 series. The coating composition preferably contains a cyano modified saturated carboxylated polyester or a zinc rich epoxy, each preferably applied by powder coating.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy sheet, plate, casting or extrusion having a surface layer containing magnesium oxide and aluminum oxide is cleaned with an acidic solution. The cleaned component has an aluminum oxide layer that is pretreated with a phosphorus-containing organic acid to form a functionalized layer. A layer of polymeric adhesive is applied to the functionalized layer, and the adhesive layer is joined to a metal support structure to form a vehicle assembly.

Abstract: Aluminum alloy sheet coated with an organophosphonic or organophosphinic acid is joined to an adjacent metal member by means of a polymeric adhesive, preferably an epoxy adhesive. The coated sheet may be worked into a desired configuration after coating. Assemblies made in accordance with the invention are useful as vehicle parts, including automotive body parts.