Assembly and method of pretreating localized areas of parts for joining

{
  "publication_number": "US10293371B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Assembly and method of pretreating localized areas of parts for joining",
  "abstract": "An assembly and a method of joining a first part with a second part at an attachment area that includes a localized area on the first part. The localized area is cleaned and activated by a plasma jet. An organosilicon composition is applied by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition to the localized area. An adhesive is applied to the localized area and the second part is mechanically fastened to the first part in the localized area.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An assembly comprising: a first part; a plasma-enhanced vapor deposition film coating of an organosilicon composition applied to localized areas on the first part; a layer of adhesive applied to the film coating; a second part assembled to the first part; and a mechanical joint connecting the first part to the second part with the film coating and layer of adhesive disposed between the first part and the second part.",
    "2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the plasma-enhanced vapor deposition film coating is a hexamethyldisiloxane film.",
    "3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the hexamethyldisiloxane film includes exposed - OH groups that bond with the layer of adhesive.",
    "4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mechanical joint is a self-piercing rivet.",
    "5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the plasma-enhanced vapor deposition film coating is applied to localized areas on the second part, and wherein the layer of adhesive is bonded to the film coating on the first part and the second part."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to methods of joining parts together, particularly methods that include pretreating localized areas of at least one of the parts to be joined.\n\nComponents made of different lightweight materials, such as aluminum, magnesium, and composites are used to produce fuel efficient vehicles. Components made of lightweight materials may be cast or extruded at an automotive facility. Components made of lightweight materials may be required to be shipped to a secondary facility for surface pretreatment to improve adhesion of adhesives, coatings and paint.\n\nSurface pretreatment may be a complex multi-step process that includes acid cleaning the component, applying a conditioning agent to the component, applying conversion coating that inhibits corrosion and increases adhesion and durability of paints and finishes. Additional post-forming treatments may be performed to further increase paint adhesion and corrosion resistance. The components may have complex shapes that make it difficult for the surface pretreatment process to uniformly pretreat the whole structure.\n\nThe components made of lightweight materials may be delivered to a vehicle assembly facility for the joining operations after undergoing surface pretreatment. The components may be joined together by welding or by self-piercing rivets. Adhesives may be applied to the pretreated components to improve the strength of connections between the components made of lightweight materials and other parts.",
  "cpc": [
    "B05D 3/142",
    "B05D 1/62",
    "B05D 7/14",
    "B21J 15/025",
    "B23K 11/0066",
    "B29C 65/60",
    "B32B 15/01",
    "B32B 2383/00",
    "B32B 2605/00",
    "B32B 37/1284",
    "B32B 7/12",
    "C23G 5/00",
    "F16B 11/006",
    "F16B 19/086",
    "F16B 5/04",
    "Y10T 156/10",
    "Y10T 428/249923"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B05D 1/00",
    "B05D 3/14",
    "B05D 7/14",
    "B21J 15/02",
    "B23K 11/00",
    "B29C 65/60",
    "B32B 15/01",
    "B32B 37/12",
    "B32B 7/12",
    "C23G 5/00",
    "F16B 11/00",
    "F16B 19/08",
    "F16B 5/04"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Ford Global Technologies LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Larry Paul Haack",
    "Kimberly Ann Lazarz",
    "Ann Marie Straccia",
    "Joy Hines Forsmark"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-10-04",
  "publication_date": "2019-05-21",
  "grant_date": "2019-05-21",
  "priority_date": "2014-03-21",
  "application_number": "US-201615285244-A",
  "family_id": "54141273",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US20070026254A1",
    "KR20050121940A",
    "US20110111236A1",
    "US8702892B2",
    "JP2007229980A",
    "US20100015358A1",
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    "US8414087B2",
    "DE102009052088A1",
    "US8672384B2",
    "WO2012066096A1"
  ]
}