OBSERVATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS INFLUENCING MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND CRACK DEVELOPMENT IN ALUMINIUM COMPONENTS POST-CATAPHORETIC COATING

The article under consideration pertains to the study of the influence of selected process factors of surface pretreatment on the quality of cataphoresis coating. The present study is focused on the evaluation of the length of cracks formed during mechanical stress (i.e., the bending test), which serve as an indicator of the adhesion and integrity of the formed coating. The present study investigates three primary factors that influence the degreasing process: the initial concentration of the degreasing solution (kODM), the deposition time (tODM), and the temperature of the degreasing process (TODM). Two types of degreasing solutions were utilized for experimental validation, with each solution investigated separately in a large-scale planned experiment designed according to the principles of central composite design (CCD). The objective of this study is to examine the impact of these parameters on the formation of cracks in the cataphoresis coating and to elucidate potential correlations between the quality of the surface treatment and the parameters of the degreasing process. The experimental findings revealed that variations in crack lengths, ranging from 1 to 100 millimeters, were observed contingent upon the specific combination of factors that were examined. The ensuing results are presented in graphical outputs and a decision tree, which facilitate the identification of interactions between the factors. This study makes a significant contribution to the field by offering a more profound comprehension of the process influences on the mechanical properties of cataphoresis coatings. Furthermore, it provides insights that are valuable for optimizing the process flow in practice.