Engineered Materials Workshop - Part B: Adhesion Promotion Technologies

The potential formation of α-case that was initially raised by metallurgists has been addressed at the micron scale. Mechanical fatigue testing is needed in the Phase II to demonstrate durability. X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) characterization indicated that detrimental hydroxyl species are removed by laser ablation, mil scale is efficiently stripped, and fresh (beneficial) oxides are readily formed at higher laser ablation energies. XPS has established that no detrimental chemistry is being produced by the laser treatment. A technique was developed to aid in failure mode analysis. Adhesion studies conducted with two test methods and two adhesives have indicated that a stable interface is formed.