METHOD FOR PROVIDING ENVIRONMENTALLY STABLE ALUMINUM SURFACES FOR PAINTING AND ADHESIVE BONDING, AND PRODUCT PRODUCED

摘要

Method of preparing a surface of aluminum and aluminum alloys for forming environmentally stable bonds with either an adhesive or a paint comprising the steps of acid etching a clean surface thereof by contacting it with an acid etchant for a time sufficient to effect a loss of weight of the aluminum being treated in an amount in excess of about 400 mg/ft<2>, rinsing the acid-etched surface with water and forming a chromate-phosphate conversion coating on the resulting rinsed acid-etched surface, and products produced thereby. Aluminum and aluminum alloys painted or adhesively bonded after preparation in accordance with this method exhibit long-term durability even when exposed to harsh conditions.