Underbody Coating
What is an Under-body coating?
Undercarriage painting is the process of protecting the underside of a car from the elements by adding a layer of some form of cover to the vehicle's undercarriage.
A car is mostly made of metal and these metals are prone to corrosion and decay. Corrosion is the process by which these metals, such as iron, react with the atmosphere to form other undesirable compounds. For example, iron will react with oxygen in the atmosphere in the presence of moisture or water to form layers of rust. The only way to prevent this is to protect the metals with a layer of paint or other similar coatings that will prevent the metal from coming into direct contact with the atmosphere and thus preventing it from reacting and possibly corroding.
Types of undercarriage coatings
There are several different chassis paint variations used on vehicles today and are listed below:
1) Chassis coating based on wax or paraffin
Wax or paraffin-based undercarriage painting is the cheapest and fastest option available when it comes to painting a vehicle's undercarriage. Unlike other forms of coating, the wax-based coating does not last very long because it is not very tacky and does not stick to the metal surface as long as other types of coating. The main advantage of using this type of paint for your vehicle is that it is the most economical and viable option and it is particularly resistant to the effects of moisture, but on the other hand, wax-based paint will need to be applied more often, say every few months, as it does not last very long.
2) Rubberized undercarriage coating
The most common option for undercarriage paint on your vehicle would be rubber undercarriage paint. This method involves the use of a tar-like substance that is sprayed onto the chassis of the vehicle. This spray adheres to any surface it is sprayed on and forms a protective coating.
Because this rubberized spray has been infused with additives that act as protection and form a shield against oxygen, moisture and salts, and other hard objects such as stones that could damage the bottom and eventually lead to corrosion.
3) Asphalt chassis coating
Asphalt undercarriage coating is another form of this process, mainly used on heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses, and heavy machinery, as this type of undercarriage coating offers extra protection against chipping and moisture. The environment that most of these vehicles will be exposed to during their lifetime requires them to have a bit more protective coating than the average passenger vehicle.
These undercarriage coatings also contain some rubberized material to help with noise reduction, but unlike other forms of coating, asphalt-based coatings cannot be painted on and therefore work best for undercarriage coatings only.
4) Polyurethane chassis coating
Polyurethane coating is another form of chassis coating that is relatively easy to apply and works by sealing cracks and crevices by displacing moisture and salts to protect non-oxidized metals from corrosion. This underbody coating process requires a certain amount of chassis surface preparation, which involves first degreasing the surface and then applying an etch primer to the bare metal body prior to applying this coating. However, this offers very good protection as well as bonding to the metal surface. Unlike asphalt-based chassis paint, polyurethane paint can be overpainted.
Advantages of undercarriage coating
A few benefits of protecting your vehicle's undercarriage are listed below:
Prevent corrosion
The undercarriage finish plays a very big role when it comes to combating corrosion and rust formation on the vehicle by creating a protective layer around the exposed metals around the bottom of the vehicle, which is a part of the body that is highly sensitive to these conditions, especially in areas. with high humidity or snow.
Extend the life of your vehicle
The primary purpose of getting undercarriage paint is to protect the underside of your vehicle from corrosion, but this, in turn, provides protection to components such as the engine, transmission, and its clutches from corrosion, thereby reducing wear and tear on these parts.
It also protects the underside of the vehicle from abrasion and other physical damage caused by rocks and other hard objects, keeping the vehicle's undercarriage relatively undamaged.
Noise absorption
A good thick undercarriage can reduce road noise entering the cabin by creating an additional sound-deadening layer on the bottom of the vehicle.
Disadvantages of Underbody coating
Works best on new vehicles
The process of painting the undercarriage of your vehicle is most effective when it comes to a brand new vehicle that has had relatively less exposure to the natural elements that promote corrosion. The new vehicle will have an underbody free of dirt and corrosion, making the application of this protective coating much easier. However, if the vehicle has been in service for some time, the application of the paint will be more tedious, as existing corrosion and foreign particles must be completely removed, otherwise, the paint will not be as effective as claimed.
Iterative process
The first thing to understand about underbody painting is that it is not a one-time application or process. The coating is also prone to degradation over time and must be reapplied at intervals to ensure it performs as effectively as possible and fulfills its function of protecting the vehicle's undercarriage.
Additional costs
Although not a disadvantage of the coating in itself, applying this coating to any vehicle will necessarily bring an additional cost factor into play. And as mentioned in the previous point, this process repeats itself over time, adding recurring costs to the owner.