Effects of Coating Pre-treatment on the Filiform Corrosion of Aluminum Finishes

This project will evaluate the filiform corrosion (FFC) resistance of aluminum frame, aluminum panels and aluminum glazing bead (when used) via powder coating from Starline Windows Ltd. Currently before coating, aluminum substrates are pretreated with cleaning and etch processes, where an alkaline bath made of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with drinking or reverse osmosis (RO) water is used. The cleaning process also prepare the surface for pre-enetrant etch (pre-pen etch), Pre-pen etch primarily removes smeared material to prepare a part for subsequent Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection (FPI) processing. The effects of various pre-treatment procedures, i.e., using RO water and subsequent pre-pen etch on the FFC of Aluminum Finishes will be clarified in this study. The overall outcome will help to advance the operations of aluminum cleaning and aluminum etch processing.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jing Liu;Ahmed Qureshi

Student:

Daniela Arango Vásquez

Partner:

Starline Windows

Discipline:

Engineering - chemical / biological

Sector:

Other

University:

University of Alberta