Environmentally Sustainable Surface Preparation and Cleaning Processes for Aerospace and Structural Aluminum, Copper and Brass

Surface preparation and final coatings on aerospace materials are critical for performance and long-term functionality.  Performance data for an environmentally sustainable surface cleaning and preparation technique process will be presented.  Applications of the process for aerospace components will be presented. Prior art has been complicated by the size and complexity of components and by the use of hazardous materials and/or expensive time-intensive hand application methods.  Reducing the cost of application, operator safety, and environmentally sustainable waste treatment are critical for process sustainability.  The described surface treatment has been applied to aluminum, copper and zinc containing materials.  The prepared surfaces exhibit stable surface cleaning, de-oxidation, surface appearance and stability of substrate chemical composition.  A variety of surface coatings (including Anodize and Alodine^® 1200S) have been applied with excellent adhesion and corrosion properties.  The cleaning solution is capable of multiple uses extending beyond 20 applications for aluminum, copper and zinc containing materials.  The process allows for reduced processing/material costs, minimized or eliminated environmental impact, and versatility in topcoat application.  These benefits, along with reduced or eliminated hands-on labor, lower the cost associated with manufacturing of lightweight metallic and structural materials.  In addition to the metal surface preparation processes, an example of a versatile coating will be described.  The coating is aqueous-based and produces a flexible high temperature resistant surface.  The coating also exhibits excellent wear resistance and an ablative semi-ceramic surface in the final configuration.