Laser Ablative Surface Treatment for Enhanced Bonding of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

• DOI: 10.1021/am302293m
• Publication Date: 2013-01-14T17:48:34Z
• Authors: Frank L. Palmieri; Kent A. Watson; Guillermo Morales; Thomas Williams; Robert Hicks; Christopher J. Wohl; John W. Hopkins; John W. Connell
• Keywords: Adhesive Bonding; Laser Ablation; Surface Modification

Adhesive bonding offers many advantages over mechanical fastening, but requires certification before it can be incorporated in primary structures for commercial aviation without disbond-arrestment features or redundant load paths. Surface preparation is widely recognized as the key step to producing robust and predictable adhesive bonds. by laser ablation provides an alternative expensive, hazardous, polluting, less precise practices used currently such chemical-dip, manual abrasion grit blast. This report documents preliminary testing of a surface technique using replacement chemical etch abrasive processes applied Ti-6Al-4V alloy adherends. roughness composition were characterized interference microscopy X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. A fluorescence visualization was developed which allowed quantitative failure mode analysis. Wedge crack extension hot, humid environment indicated relative effectiveness various treatments. Increasing duty cycle reduced propagation failure. Single lap shear showed increase strength durability power increased. Chemical analyses trends species, correlated with improved bond durability.