Assembly of an aluminum component and of a steel component having a znalmg alloy coating

Abstract

The present invention provides an assembly of an aluminum-based element and an element made of steel provided on at least one of the surfaces thereof with a metal coating. The metal coating is made of a zinc-aluminum-magnesium alloy including from 2.3% to 3.3% by weight of magnesium and from 3.5% to 3.9% by weight of aluminum. The remainder of the metal coating is zinc, inevitable impurities and possibly one or more additional elements selected from among Si, Sb, Pb, Ti, Ca, Mn, Sn, La, Ce, Cr, Ni or Bi. The coated surface of the steel element is in at least partial contact with the the aluminum-based element. The contact is brought about by a layer of adhesive or sealant having a thickness of less than 5 mm. The present invention also provides a part for a vehicle including at least one assembly and a vehicle.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . An assembly comprising:
 an aluminum-based element; and   a steel element provided on at least one of the surfaces thereof having a metal coating made of a zinc-aluminum-magnesium alloy including from 2.3% to 3.3% by weight of magnesium, from 3.5% to 3.9% by weight of aluminum, a remainder of the metal coating being zinc and inevitable impurities;   the coated surface of the steel element is in at least partial contact with the aluminum-based element via a layer of adhesive or sealant having a thickness of less than 5 mm.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the metal coating further includes one or more additional elements selected from among Si, Sb, Pb, Ti, Ca, Mn, Sn, La, Ce, Cr, Ni or Bi. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the metal coating made of a zinc-aluminum-magnesium alloy includes from 2.3% to 3.3% by weight of magnesium, and from 3.6% to 3.9% by weight of aluminum, the remainder of the metal coating being zinc and inevitable impurities. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the metal coating further includes one or more additional elements selected from among Si, Sb, Pb, Ti, Ca, Mn, Sn, La, Ce, Cr, Ni or Bi. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the aluminum-based element and the steel element are assembled by crimping. 
     
     
         13 . A part for a vehicle comprising at least one assembly according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
         14 . A vehicle door comprising:
 the part according to  claim 13 ,   the aluminum-based element forming an exterior part of the door, and   the steel element forming an interior part of the door.   
     
     
         15 . A vehicle including at least one part according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         16 . Use of a part made of steel provided on at least one of the surfaces thereof, with a metal coating made of a zinc-aluminum-magnesium alloy including from 2.3% to 3.3% by weight of magnesium, from 3.5% to 3.9% by weight of aluminum, the remainder of the metal coating being zinc and inevitable impurities, for the manufacture of assemblies according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
         17 . The use of a part according to  claim 16  wherein the metal coating further includes one or more additional elements selected from among Si, Sb, Pb, Ti, Ca, Mn, Sn, La, Ce, Cr, Ni or Bi. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the aluminum-based element and the steel element are assembled by crimping. 
     
     
         19 . A vehicle including at least one vehicle door according to  claim 14 . 
     
     
         20 . Use of a part made of steel provided on at least one of the surfaces thereof, with a metal coating made of a zinc-aluminum-magnesium alloy including from 2.3% to 3.3% by weight of magnesium, from 3.5% to 3.9% by weight of aluminum, a remainder of the metal coating consisting of zinc, inevitable impurities and possibly one or more additional elements selected from among Si, Sb, Pb, Ti, Ca, Mn, Sn, La, Ce, Cr, Ni or Bi, for the manufacture of assemblies according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         21 . Use of a part made of steel provided on at least one of the surfaces thereof, with a metal coating made of a zinc-aluminum-magnesium alloy including from 2.3% to 3.3% by weight of magnesium, from 3.5% to 3.9% by weight of aluminum, the remainder of the metal coating consisting of zinc, inevitable impurities and possibly one or more additional elements selected from among Si, Sb, Pb, Ti, Ca, Mn, Sn, La, Ce, Cr, Ni or Bi, for the manufacture of assemblies according to  claim 12 . 
     
     
         22 . Use of a part made of steel provided on at least one of the surfaces thereof, with a metal coating made of a zinc-aluminum-magnesium alloy including from 2.3% to 3.3% by weight of magnesium, from 3.5% to 3.9% by weight of aluminum, the remainder of the metal coating consisting of zinc, inevitable impurities and possibly one or more additional elements selected from among Si, Sb, Pb, Ti, Ca, Mn, Sn, La, Ce, Cr, Ni or Bi, for the manufacture of parts according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         23 . Use of a part made of steel provided on at least one of the surfaces thereof, with a metal coating made of a zinc-aluminum-magnesium alloy including from 2.3% to 3.3% by weight of magnesium, from 3.5% to 3.9% by weight of aluminum, the remainder of the metal coating consisting of zinc, inevitable impurities and possibly one or more additional elements selected from among Si, Sb, Pb, Ti, Ca, Mn, Sn, La, Ce, Cr, Ni or Bi, for the manufacture of vehicle doors according to  claim 14 . 
     
     
         24 . A method of manufacturing the assembly recited in  claim 8  comprising the steps of:
 supplying the aluminum-based element; and 
 supplying the steel element provided on at least one of the surfaces thereof having a metal coating made of a zinc-aluminum-magnesium alloy including from 2.3% to 3.3% by weight of magnesium, from 3.5% to 3.9% by weight of aluminum, a remainder of the metal coating being zinc and inevitable impurities; 
 contacting, at least partially, the aluminum-based element with the coated surface of the steel element via a layer of adhesive or sealant having a thickness of less than 5 mm. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of manufacturing according to  claim 25 , wherein the metal coating further includes one or more additional elements selected from among Si, Sb, Pb, Ti, Ca, Mn, Sn, La, Ce, Cr, Ni or Bi.