Optimum Silane Treatment for the Adhesively Bonded Aluminum Adherends at the Cryogenic Temperature

Abstract

Aluminum adherends for the adhesive joints at cryogenic application such as LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) containment tanks were silane treated to improve bond strength of the aluminum joints. The bond strengths of the single-lap joints composed of aluminum adherends and epoxy adhesive were measured with respect to the condition of the silane solution and surface roughness obtained with grit blast. The chemical composition of the silane treated aluminum surface was analyzed by XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). Also, contact angles of appropriate liquids on the silane treated aluminum surface were measured with respect to treatment conditions. From the experiments, the optimum treatment conditions for the aluminum adherends were obtained for the adhesive joints at the cryogenic temperature. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2010