Underbody Coating
1. Underbody Coating :- Underbody coating is a thick resilent coating that is applied under the body of the vehicle ie. chasis of an automobile
to protect them against the impact damage caused due to small stone , which would chip out the ordinary paint of the chasis , which leads to rust under the chasis body . Underbody coating is also known as underseal . Initialy a bitumen based compound is used , but this has its own disadvantage as the water gets trapped into it that makes the condition more favourable for rust to carry forward .underbody coating have different standard based on the countries climatic condition that is why various norms related to underbody coating has been made .
2. Purpose of underbody coating :- In indian road conditions cars underbody is more prone to corrosion , so undercoating provides long term protection to the cars underbody from corrosion . it also protects parts like car internal body pannels , frame rails and other inner cavities , that are not physically accessible but are prone to corrosion .
There are also some more benefits of undercoating that are listed below
a. Minimises sound : The underneath sound is reduced after undercoating so that there will nopiseless and smooth driving experience
b. Heat Insulation : undercoating provides insulation to the under body of the car from the extreme tempratures under the body that results in comfortable cabin experience
c. Anti - chipping property : while driving the vehicle , if any stone hits the coating , it does not chips out , hence it protects the body from the contact of water .
3. Types of underbody coating :-
a. Rubbersied under body coating : It is considered as the best underbody coating for the cars . It protects the Under body well from the scratches and applying to the undercarriage is much easier .
b. Wax based underbody coating : it is the most affordable option of underbody coating , but this ephermal undercoating will wear away in a few months time. the Main Advantage of wax based coating is it fight against the moisture .
c.Asphalt based automotive underbody coating : Best suited for lorries, trucks and large vehicles this provides a greater degree of protection compared to rubber-based coatings. However, asphalt-based coatings contain little amounts of rubber for sound-insulation purposes. The process of applying this coating is a bit time-consuming though.
d. Polyurethane Underbody Coating : This coating closes up splits and fractures on the underbody of the vehicle. It offers up good protection against corrosion and also bonds with the metal. Unlike in the case of asphalt-based coating, you can paint over the polyurethane coating.
4. Advantages of the Underbody coating :
a.Fights Rust :It plays an important role in keeping corrosion at bay. Underbody coating can come in handy especially if you live near the sea, where there is too much humidity, and rusting is just one of those everyday things. You should also seriously consider undercoating if you reside in a place where it snows in winter.
b.Absorbs Noise: Believe it or not, very thick undercoating can soften the noises that reach the cabin. Since the undercoating is often made up of rubber it absorbs some of the rackets. The occupants of the car could spare themselves of the road noises – at least up to a certain extend
c. Reinforcement : If your car comes with stock underbody coating, using another coating on top of it, is not going to hurt. It will offer additional reinforcement, protecting the underbody from water, road debris, gravel and small pebbles. There would also be a lesser chance for the factory coat to flake away.
d.Prolong Car’s Life:Good undercoating not only defends the underbody from corrosion but also protects the engine and transmission as well! Less rusting coupled with slower wear and tear can surely add years to the lifespan of your vehicle. There would be fewer dents, dings and scratches on the undercarriage for you to fret about.
Cons of Undercoating :
When examining the vehicle undercoating pros and cons, you do want to look at potential downsides to getting undercoating.
Undercoating will work best on new vehicles that have not been exposed to road conditions.
A used vehicle may already have residue on the bottom of the car or even have spots of rust and corrosion.
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.