High molecular mass, saturated hydrocarbon acid based chemical conversion coating composition

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of using a high molecular mass, saturated hydrocarbon acid to generate a chemical conversion coating on light metal surfaces such as aluminum, magnesium, and titanium and their alloys.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A conversion coating prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
 (a) contacting a substrate comprising a metal selected from aluminum, magnesium, or titanium, with a saturated hydrocarbon acid having a molecular mass of at least about 340 Da; and then   (b) heating the substrate of step (a) to a temperature at or above the melting point of the saturated hydrocarbon acid, for a time sufficient to yield a conversion coating on the substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The conversion coating of  claim 1 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon acid of step (a) has a molecular mass between about 340 Da and 2,000 Da. 
     
     
         3 . The conversion coating of  claim 1 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon acid of step (a) has a molecular mass between about 340 Da and 1,000 Da. 
     
     
         4 . The conversion coating of  claim 1 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon acid of step (a) has between 22 carbon atoms and 70 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         5 . The conversion coating of  claim 1 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon acid of step (a) has between 22 carbon atoms and 50 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         6 . The conversion coating of  claim 1 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon acid of step (a) has between 22 carbon atoms and 40 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         7 . The conversion coating of  claim 1 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon acid of step (a) has between 22 carbon atoms and 30 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         8 . The conversion coating of  claim 1 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon acid of step (a) is linear or branched. 
     
     
         9 . The conversion coating of  claim 1 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon acid of step (a) comprises two or more fused rings. 
     
     
         10 . A method of creating a conversion coating, the method comprising:
 (a) contacting a substrate comprising a metal selected from aluminum, magnesium, or titanium, with a saturated hydrocarbon acid having a molecular mass of at least about 340 Da; and then   (b) heating the substrate of step (a) to a temperature at or above the melting point of the saturated hydrocarbon acid, for a time sufficient to yield a conversion coating on the substrate.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon acid of step (a) has a molecular mass between about 340 Da and 2,000 Da. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon acid of step (a) has a molecular mass between about 340 Da and 1,000 Da. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon acid of step (a) has between 22 carbon atoms and 70 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon acid of step (a) has between 22 carbon atoms and 50 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon acid of step (a) has between 22 carbon atoms and 40 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon acid of step (a) has between 22 carbon atoms and 30 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon acid of step (a) is linear or branched. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the saturated hydrocarbon acid of step (a) comprises two or more fused rings.