Technical Paper
Aluminum As-Rolled Sheet for Automotive Applications - Effect of Surface Oxide on Resistance Spot Welding and Adhesive Bonding Behavior
1997-02-24
970013
In the automotive industry there is a considerable interest to reduce fuel consumption and exhaust fumes. Aluminum materials for car body panels parts such as doors, hood and trunk, have already proved to be an excellent solution for weight saving. However the excess cost induced by weight saving must be kept as low as possible; therefore, aluminum production costs must be controlled. With this aim, Pechiney has developed AA 5182 alloy sheets for inner parts without any surface treatment of the material. Aluminum sheets have been rolled under varying conditions in order to obtain different surface oxides. These products were tested for their joining behavior, especially resistance spot welding and adhesive bonding. The objectives of the study were to determine the effect of rolling parameters and of storage on the oxide film and to compare the weldability lobes and the bonding strength for the different identified oxidation conditions.