Underbody Coating
UNDER-BODY COATING
Automotive Underbody Coatings:
Underside of vehicles serves as an intermediate between metal components of a vehicle and outer environment.Underbody of vehicle and outer environment.Underbody of vehicles is prone to damages due to harsh environment coditions.Coatings are applied to the underside of vehicle to protect them against factor such as corrosion,chemical,moisture,water damage,and chipping of the underbody.Automotive underbody coatings offer a protective layer to vehicles'underside.
Most of these coatings provide chemical and corrasion resistance,along with several other properties based on different product formulations. Protection of underbody and wheel arches against chip damages is achived by applying automotive underbody coatings,which protect the metal from debris of gravel,stones,salts,etc.tossed by the road.
Coating process of a vehicle body(automotive coating process)comprises mimimum five layers of paint,while the underbody coating process comprises the first two layers in the overall coating process.These two layers provide durable protection durable protection against corrosin;however,damage over time requires renewal of these coatings.Automative aftermarket sevice providers often provide these services during scheduled vehicle maintenance.
Automotive underbody coatings also offer protection against humidity,moisture,and wet conditions that can seep through the undercarriage of a vehicle through joints or cracks in the paintwork;and cause corrosion.
Elasticity of polymers used in automative underbody coatings allows for low noise when struck by road debris compared to that with uncoated underbody.As a result,vibrations of vehicles are dampened and kept to a mimimum.
Pre-treatment:
The first step in preparing BIW for subsequent coating is the pre-treatment process.Pre-treatment consists of clearning the body surface to remove remainning oils from the stamping process and welding residues through three primary liquid dip processes of degreasing,conditioning and phosphating.The degreasing solution is composed of alkaline salts and surfactants and can include caustics soda,tri-sodium phosphate,and sodium carbonate.The surfactants are types of detergents for surfactants are types of detergents for emulsifying oils and lubricants on the BIW.
Electrodeposition(ED):
The metal underbody and frames of automobiles are coated prevent corrosion,whereas other areas like the roof are not rustproofed.When not coated to prevent corrosion,the structural metals(or other materials)are primed before applying addition coatings.The ED processes are modified as per the BIW material property.This coating provides rust and corrosion protection.
The third step is underbody coating(UBC)and seam sealing using PVC and urethane.The sealant is applied around and inside the doors,hood,trunk,and front dash and on to the exterior and interior of metal joints and outerarea of the back wheel well.
Primer:
The fourth coating step is the application of a primer surface or simply primer.It can be water-borne,solvent-borne or a powder.These primers are used to improve adhesion between the E-coat and topcast,provide chipping protection,enhance paint appearance also be envirnomentally compaatible with emission regulations.
Top-coat:
The final step in the body coating process is to apply the topcoat,which consists of two layers-the basecoat and clear coat.The basecoat contains the primary colouring pigment and the clear coat provides a protective coating against environment effects,corrosion,and UV light degradation promotes unmatched colour retention and provides a smooth unblemished even finish.
Types of Vehicle Undercoating:
Having undercoating professionally applied to your vehicle can be expensive,but fortunatelly,if your budget is tight,you can do it yourself for a fraction of the price.Here are some of the various types of undercoating available.
Rubberized Undercoating:
Rubberized vehicle unjdercoating is easy to apply and offers sound-cushioning as well as protection from dust,moisture,and dings or dents.
overall,rubberizred coating is generally the best option for protecting your vehicle's undercarriage,as it provides the simplest and best protective measures against rust and moisture.
Polyurethane Undercoating:
The other option for undercoating your vehicle is to use a polyurethande-based sealant.This type of vehicle undercoating is a little bit quicker and easier to apply.
On the flipside,this type of car undercoating generally requires a little bit more surface prep work before applying -sanding and apply an etching primer to bare metals before using are generally recommended.
It also sands quickly in case you'll need to perform bodywork and cam be painted over.
Wax or Paraffin-Based Undercoatings:
A paraffin-based undercoating will be the cheapest and quickest option available with which to protect the undercarriage of your vehicle.However,keep in mind that it will wear off quicker than other types of undercoating and will need to be stripped and reapplied at least once every year.
Wax-based undercoatings never truly harden.Durning application,they drip or flow into seams and cracks to provide protective propertie.They are usually available in a spray gun canister or in an aerosol can andoffer at least a base protection in moderately humid climates.
Asphalt-Based Undecoating:
For standard vehicles,any of the aforementioned types of undercoating will provide sufficient protection.For large trucks and heavy machinery,asphalt-based undercoating provides a bit of extra durability againts rocks,chips,and moisture.
Asphalt-based undercoating generally contains a little bit of rubberized material that sets up firmly and also helps soften noise.
Generally sold in five gallon containers,this type of undercoating also needs more cure time than the other three,and is NOT paintable,making it best to use only for undercarriage.
Advantages of Underboady coating:
.Undercoating gives an extra layer of protection againts rust and corrosion,protecting your car.
.Undercoating will eventually wear out,but you can get years of protection from it.Even vehicles in warmer climates gain protection as debris is repelled and kept away from eating at the vehicle.
.It can be self-applied.
.It minimizes the sound from underneath the car.
.It insulates the interior of the car from the extreme temperature from beneath the vehicle.
.The coating does not chip away when hit by stones.
Disadvantages of Underboady coating
.Undercoating will not help you if corrosion already exists and the corrosion needs to be removed first before it can be applied,which can be expensive for you.
.It must be reapplied every 3 to 5 years for the best results.
.It adds weight to the vehicle.