CORROSION RESISTANCE OF LASER-INTERFERENCE STRUCTURED ALUMINUM ALLOY 2024 COATED WITH MIL-PRF-85582 PRIMER

Abstract

The use of aluminum alloys in aerospace industry requires more effective and reliable joining techniques. The lubricant contaminants from prior rolling operations affect surface energies and the quality of coating adhe-sion and adhesive bonded joints. In this study, a new laser-based technique is investigated as a surface treatment for coating applications. The laser interference power profile was created by splitting the beam and guiding both beams towards the specimen and overlapping them on the specimen surface, creating a line-interference pattern on the specimen surface. The laser-interference structuring (LIS) was used without any chemical treatments, such as those in chemical conversion coating (CCC) and sulfuric acid anodizing (SAA), which is a much simpler process than those chemical-based. To assess the effect of LIS on corrosion re-sistance of coating, Al 2024 panels prepared by LIS, CCC and SAA were coated with MIL-PRF-85582, Type I, Class N primer and exposed to salt spray environment according to ASTM B117. The exposure is currently in progress and the corrosion attack on the coated panels will be evaluated by the degree of blister formation and rust creepage.