A surface treatment, especially for
titanium and aluminum alloys, forms a pigmented
sol-gel film covalently bonded on the
metal surface to produce desired color, gloss,
reflectivity, electrical
conductivity,
emissivity, or a combination thereof
usable over a wide temperature range. The
coating retains its characteristics and
impact resistance following exposures to temperatures at least in the range from −321° F. to 750° F. An aqueous
sol containing an alkoxyzirconium and an organosilane with an
organic acid catalyst and
zirconium stabilizer is applied to etched or grit blasted substrates by dipping, spraying, or drenching, to produce bonds in a
single application comparable in strength and performance to standard anodize controls. Parameters affecting performance include the
sol composition, the Si / Zr ratio, the ratio of sol ingredients, the concentration of the sol, the carrier
solvent, solution age, catalysts, surface pretreatment, application method, curing process, and primer used. The sol-gel
coating may be graded in its
ceramic character by adjusting the organosilane component between TEOS and
silanes that have more distinctive organic character by virtue of organic ligands attached to the
silicon.