Surface Treatment for Additive Manufactured Aluminum Alloys

Abstract: Manufacturing of aircraft parts is often complex and time-consuming, which has led to an increased interest in new manufacturing technologies in the Swedish industry such as additive manufacturing (AM). Additive manufacturing techniques could be a solution to meet the aircrafts’ demand since it contributes to an efficient manufacturing and allows a just-in-time production of complex metal parts in their final shape. However, the use of AM aluminum for aircraft applications is in a development phase and no surface treatment process exists. Thereby, it is of high interest to further investigate surface treatments for AM alloys. Currently at Saab AB, conventional aluminum alloys are generally anodized in tartaric sulphuric acid (TSA) to improve the corrosion resistance and adhesion properties of the metal. On the behalf of Saab AB, there is also an interest in establishing powder coating as a surface treatment. This master thesis’ purpose is to investigate the anodizing and adhesion properties for the two additive manufacturing alloys - AlSi10Mg and ScalmalloyⓇ, and compare it with the conventionally produced Al alloy 2024-T3. The anodization and the powder coating is examined by using following characterization techniques: profilometry, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and contact angle measurements. The results from the experimental part indicated successful anodizations for all the alloys and good adhesion properties for powder coating. This research is a first step in contributing to a better understanding of the anodic coating and adhesion properties for the AM samples ScalmalloyⓇ and AlSi10Mg