CONTINUOUS SURFACE TREATMENT FOR COILS MADE OF ALUMINUM ALLOYS SHEETS

Abstract

The invention relates to a continuous coil surface treatment process suitable for both a coil of a 5XXX aluminum alloy sheet and of a 6XXX aluminum alloy sheet. The process comprises the successive steps of etching the surface with a fluorine-free acidic solution; rinsing with deionized water; applying a conversion solution comprising titanium and zirconium, and drying. The invention surface treatment method is environmentally friendly and enables the production of the treated surfaces in an efficient and reliable manner for both 5XXX and 6XXX alloys. It is particularly adapted for the production of aluminum alloy sheets for the automotive industry.

Claims

1. A continuous coil surface treatment process suitable for both a coil of a 5XXX aluminum alloy sheet and of a 6XXX aluminum alloy sheet having a surface, said process successively comprising: a) optionally cleaning the surface of the aluminum alloy sheet; b) etching the surface of the optionally cleaned aluminum alloy sheet with a fluorine-free acidic solution; c) rinsing the surface of the etched aluminum alloy sheet with deionized water; d) applying to the surface of the etched aluminum alloy sheet a conversion solution comprising titanium and zirconium, with a zirconium to titanium weight ratio of from about 3.0 to about 5.0 optionally from 3.2 to 4.0; e) optionally rinsing the surface of the converted aluminum alloy sheet with deionized water; and, f) drying the surface of the aluminum alloy sheet.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the conversion solution comprises titanium and zirconium, with a titanium content of from about 20 to about 200 mg/l and optionally of from 60 to 140 mg/l.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the conversion solution comprises hexafluotitanic acid, hexafluozirconic acid, hydrofluoric acid and optionally ammonium hydrogendifluoride.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the fluorine-free acidic solution comprises sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, or mixtures thereof.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the concentration of sulfuric acid of the fluorine-free acidic solution is from about 2 g/l to about 60 g/l, optionally from 15 g/l to 50 g/l.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the aluminum alloy sheet is made from an aluminum alloy selected from the group consisting of AA5754, AA5182, AA6451, AA6005, AA6605, AA6005A, AA6016, AA6116, AA6022, AA6013, AA6056, AA6156, AA6111 and AA6014.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the applying in (d) is performed by immersing the aluminum alloy sheet in the conversion solution.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the applying in (d) is performed by spraying the aluminum alloy sheet with the conversion solution.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein the etching in (b) is performed by spraying the aluminum alloy sheet with the fluorine-free acidic solution.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein the fluorine-free acidic solution in (b) comprises less than about 2 g/l of aluminum ions and magnesium ions.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein the fluorine-free acidic solution, comprises one or more surfactant additives or accelerators and is used at a temperature of from about 55° C. to about 85° C. for a period of about 5 to about 30 seconds.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0018] FIG. 1a is a SEM micrograph of a 6016 surface etched with a fluorine containing etching solution and FIG. 1b is a SEM micrograph of a 6016 surface etched with a fluorine-free etching solution.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] All aluminium alloys referred to in the following are designated using the rules and designations defined by the Aluminium Association in Registration Record Series that it publishes regularly, unless mentioned otherwise.

[0020] Unless otherwise specified, the definitions of standard EN 12258 apply.

[0021] The method according to the invention is a continuous coil surface treatment process suitable for both a coil of a 5XXX alloy sheet and of a 6XXX alloy sheet. One significant advantage of the invention is that there is no need to change or modify the treatments when switching the line from a 5XXX alloy to a 6XXX alloy.

[0022] The method is suitable for the treatment of a coil made of 5XXX alloy sheet and for the treatment of a coil made of a 6XXX alloy sheet. Preferably the coil is a coil of a sheet made from an aluminum alloy selected from the group consisting of AA5754, AA5182, AA6451, AA6605, AA6005, AA6005A, AA6016, AA6116, AA6022, AA6013, AA6056, AA6156, AA6111 and AA6014.

[0023] In a first step, the sheet surface may optionally be cleaned. The cleaning may be used to remove residual oil left by the rolling process. Optionally, the cleaning may be carried out by hot water spraying and/or by using organic solvents and/or by using surfactants and/or detergents such as alkaline detergents. For some continuous treatment lines, the sheets may have been sufficiently degreased by the previous thermal treatments and the cleaning step may not be needed. Also in some instances cleaning and etching may be carried out simultaneously to simplify the process. For productivity and cost reasons, it is usually preferable to avoid having a cleaning step.

[0024] In a next step, the surface of the optionally cleaned aluminum alloy sheet is etched with a fluorine-free acidic solution. The present inventors have found that by combining a fluorine-free acidic solution with a conversion bath comprising Ti and Zr in specific quantities it is possible to treat 5XXX and 6XXX sheets with a same bath and obtain satisfactory conversion. Preferably etching with a fluorine-free acidic solution is carried out chemically and not electrochemically.

[0025] Preferably, the fluorine-free acidic solution comprises sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, or mixtures thereof. Advantageously, the fluorine-free acidic solution comprises at least 80% sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid, or mixtures thereof. In an embodiment the fluorine-free acidic solution does not contain nitric acid. It is advantageous if the mixture of acids, if used, comprises at least 80% sulfuric acid. Advantageously, the concentration of sulfuric acid of the fluorine-free acidic solution is from about 2 g/l to about 60 g/l, preferably from 15 g/l to 50 g/l. Optionally, the fluorine-free acidic solution can include one or more additives (e.g., surfactants and/or detergents) and/or one or more accelerators. The surfactant and/or detergent additives can be included in the fluorine-free acidic solution at concentrations ranging from about 0.05 wt. % to 3 wt. %. Preferably, the surfactant and/or detergent additives can be included in the fluorine-free acidic solution at a concentration ranging from about 0.1 wt. % to 2.5 wt. %, from about 0.2 wt. % to 2 wt. %, from about 0.3 wt. % to 1.5 wt. % or from about 0.4 wt. % to 1.3 wt. %. A suitable accelerator that can be included in the fluorine-free acidic solution includes ferric sulfate. The accelerators can be included in the fluorine-free acidic solution at concentrations ranging from about 0.005 wt. % to 0.4 wt. %. For example, the accelerators can be included in the fluorine-free acidic solution at a concentration ranging from about 0.01 wt. % to 0.3 wt. %, from about 0.03 wt. % to 0.2 wt. %.

[0026] The fluorine-free acidic solution can be heated to a temperature of from about 55° C. to about 85° C. The fluorine-free acidic solution can be controlled within the outlined temperature and concentration ranges using, for example, heat exchangers and metering pumps and overflows and suitably replaced or replenished.

[0027] The fluorine-free acidic solution can be applied by spraying the solution onto the sheet or by immersing the sheet in a bath. Preferably, the fluorine-free acidic solution is applied by immersion. Optionally, the fluorine-free acidic solution can be circulated to ensure a fresh solution is continuously exposed to the sheet surfaces. In an advantageous embodiment, the fluorine-free acidic solution is continuously treated with an exchange resin in order to maintain a limited quantity of Al and Mg ions in the solution. Preferably, the fluorine-free acidic solution comprises less than about 3 g/l of aluminum ions and magnesium ions. Advantageously, the fluorine-free acidic solution can contain less than 2 g/l of aluminum and magnesium ions. The contact time for the acid etching step can be from about 5 seconds to about 30 seconds or preferably from about 10 to about 20 seconds.

[0028] Advantageously, the etching removal is from 0.01 to 0.2 g/m.sup.2, preferably from 0.01 to 0.1 g/m.sup.2 for 6XXX alloys and from 0.1 to 0.2 g/m.sup.2 for 5XXX alloys. With the fluorine-free acidic solution of the invention, the etching removal is substantially lower than the etching removal known from prior art fluorine containing acid solution. This is advantageous to limit Al and Mg ions in the solution. Also, the etching of the invention provides an advantageous smoother surface than the prior art etching, with in particular less or even no pitting.

[0029] After etching it is needed to rinse the surface of the etched aluminum alloy sheet with deionized water. Preferably, the deionized water in this step has a conductivity of less than or equal to 50 μS/cm. The rinsing step is preferably performed at a temperature ranging from about 37° C. to about 70° C. Advantageously, the rinsing step can be performed at a temperature of from about 40° C. to about 65° C. and preferably from about 45° C. to about 60° C. The rinse can be a progressive cascading system. Preferably, sprays are used for the rinsing step.

[0030] The following step is applying to the surface of the etched aluminum alloy sheet a conversion solution comprising titanium and zirconium, with a zirconium to titanium weight ratio of from about 3.0 to about 5.0 preferably from 3.2 to 4.0. The present inventors have found that by combining etching with the fluorine-free acidic solution and conversion with the conversion solution according to the invention, it is possible to obtain a Zr/i weight ratio on the treated sheet surface of from about 0.8 to about 1.3 for 5XXX and 6XXX alloys. This ratio is important for the adhesive bonding properties of the sheets. A benefit of the invention that it is not needed to modify the conversion solution composition in order to treat both 5XXX and 6XXX alloys. The conversion solution can be applied at a temperature of from about 35° C. to about 65° C. Preferably, the conversion solution is applied at a different temperature for 5XXX and 6XXX, typically at a temperature of from about 40° C. to about 50° C. for 5XXX alloys and of from about 45° C. to 55° C. for 6XXX alloys. The conversion solution may be applied for a contact time of from about 5 seconds to about 20 seconds. Preferably, the conversion solution is applied at during a different contact time for 5XXX and 6XXX, preferably with a contact time of from about 5 seconds to about 9 seconds for 5XXX alloys, typically with a contact time of about 7 seconds for 5XXX alloys and preferably with a contact time of from about 8 seconds to about 12 seconds for 6XXX alloys, typically with a contact time of about 10 seconds for 6XXX alloys.

[0031] Preferably, the conversion solution comprises titanium and zirconium, with a titanium content of from about 20 to about 200 mg/i and preferably from 60 to 140 mg/i. Advantageously the conversion solution comprises hexafluotitanic acid, hexafluozirconic acid, hydrofluoric acid and optionally ammonium hydrogendifluoride. The additional fluoride (under the form of hydrofluoric acid and optionally ammonium hydrogendifluoride) is advantageously added to complex the Al generated during treatment with the conversion solution. The pH of the conversion solution, is advantageously adjusted upward to a pH from about 2.5 to about 4.5, preferably from 3.5 to 4 by the addition of an alkali such as ammonium hydroxide or ammonium hydrogendifluoride. In an advantageous embodiment, the conversion solution is continuously treated with an exchange resin in order to maintain a limited quantity of Al and Mg ions in the solution. Preferably, the conversion solution comprises less than about 80 ppm of aluminum ions and magnesium ions.

[0032] The conversion solution can be applied by spraying the solution onto the sheet or by immersing the sheet in a bath. Preferably the conversion solution is applied by spraying the aluminum alloy sheet with the conversion solution, with preferably at least 5 spraying ramps. Applying the inventive described conversion solution by roll-coating would not be optimal because the Ti/Zr ratio on the sheet would be the same as the Ti/Zr ratio in the conversion solution.

[0033] The following step is optionally rinsing the surface of the converted aluminum alloy sheet with deionized water.

[0034] The final step is drying the surface of the aluminum alloy sheet. The drying step removes any water from the surface of the sheet. The drying step can be performed using an air dryer or an infrared dryer. The drying step can be performed for a time period of up to five minutes. The drying step may also be used for a metallurgical purpose, in particular for 6xxx alloys if needed, so that the coiling temperature is advantageously of from 50° C. to 120° C. or preferably from 60° C. to 100° C.

Example

[0035] The surface of aluminum alloy sheets was treated on a continuous line according to the methods described herein. The sheets included 5182 aluminum alloy sheets and 6016 aluminum alloy sheets. The sheets were cleaned and etched by spray with a sulfo fluorhydric bath (H.sub.2SO.sub.4 8 g/l HF 0.4 g/l, 50° C.) for trials 1 and 2 or with a sulfuric acid bath (H.sub.2SO.sub.4 43 g/l 70° C.) for trials 3 to 6. SEM micrograph of the surface obtained for 6016 alloy etched with the sulfo fluorhydric bath (trial 2) and micrograph of the surface obtained for 6016 alloy etched with the sulfuric acid bath (trial 6) are presented in FIGS. 1a and 1b respectively. The etching of the invention provides an advantageous smoother surface than the prior art etching, with much less pitting. Following etching the sheets were rinsed with deinoized water and treated by spray with Ti/Zr conversion surface treatment with a pH of 3.8 comprising hexafluotitanic acid, hexafluozirconic acid, hydrofluoric acid and ammonium hydrogendifluoride. The contact time, concentration and temperature are shown in Table 1.

[0036] The quantity of Zr and Ti deposited on the surface was measured by XRF on three positions across the width for 6 samples. The average value of the measurement is provided in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Zr/Ti Ti Zr/Ti weight concentration weight ratio on in conversion ratio in the Conversion solution conversion Contact Ti Zr sheet bath (mg/l) solution Alloy Temperature time (mg/m2) (mg/m2) surface 1 A  40 2.8 5182 45° C.  6 5.2 5.5 1.0 2 6016 50° C.  8 5.4 5.1 0.9 3 B 100 2.2 5182 45° C.  7 5.4 5.1 0.9 4 6016 50° C. 10 6.1 3.4 0.6 5 C 100 3.5 5182 45° C.  7 5.1 6.9 1.3 6 6016 50° C. 10 5.4 4.6 0.9

[0037] Conversion coating with bath C is according to the invention. With the method of the invention it is possible to obtain a Zr/Ti ratio between 0.8 and 1.3 with a single bath for both 5XXX and 6XXX alloys, and obtain an advantageous smoother surface.