Tuning anodizing conditions in tartaric acid containing bath for strengthening fiber metal laminates with peek/carbon in composite for aerospace applications

• Thermoplastic fiber metal laminates: aluminium alloy and PEEK/carbon composite. • Electrochemical treatment on aluminium alloy for growing porous aluminium oxide. • Process parameters evaluation: anodizing time, voltage, and electrolyte composition. • Morphological characterization and corrosion resistance evaluation by SEM and EIS. • Mechanical performance of fiber metal laminates by short beam shear and double cantilever beam tests. The article investigates the enhancement of Fiber Metal Laminates (FMLs) in aerospace applications by exploring the effects of Tartaric-Sulfuric Acid (TSA) anodizing and its modifications on 2024-T3 and 7075-T6 aluminium alloys. The research aims to optimize the anodized aluminium's surface morphology to improve both corrosion resistance and mechanical properties, in the context of adhesive bonding with carbon-reinforced Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) composites. To understand how treatment parameters like tartaric acid concentration, temperature, and anodizing time affect oxide layer formation on aluminium, these variables were systematically varied. The results show that the modification on TSA anodizing processes parameters, effectively enhances the mechanical performance and corrosion resistance of FMLs by tailoring the morphology of the oxide layer. The anodized FML samples demonstrated superior mechanical properties and corrosion resistance compared to mechanically treated samples, making these anodizing techniques particularly promising for aerospace applications requiring durable and lightweight materials.