Abstract: Surfaces of structural components made of aluminum or aluminum alloys are chemically treated to produce an aluminum oxide coating for improved adhesive bonding to other components or to other surface layers. The oxidizing is accomplished by exposing the surface to be oxidized to a combination bath of an inorganic mineral acid and an oxidation medium for a specific time duration, so that an oxide coating is produced on the surface of the structural components, as a prerequisite for a good adhesion stability of adhesive bonds to be formed after oxidizing.