Optimization of pretreatment process for the improvement of test performance

The purpose of this study is to examine the pretreatment process, one of the sub-processes in aluminum wheel production, which has an effect on coating test performance. Before mass production, aluminum alloy wheels undergo a series of coating tests. These tests are determined by international standards and approved by vehicle manufacturers. Wheel manufactures must provide the paint process that will ensure successful test results of the coating test according to customer specification within project period. In this study, production of aluminum wheels, are explained with figures, based on operations; beside that the pretreatment process, a part of the coating process, and the chemicals used in the pretreatment process are introduced. In order to find the most suitable process parameters DOE (Design of Experiment) method was applied, and the experiments were verified according to the coatings. Also, the experimental results were statistically analyzed. Keywords: Aluminum alloy wheel, Pretreatment Process, Paint Test, TAC test, Design of Experiment.