Underbody Coating
UNDERBODY COATING:
Underbody coating is coating of the structural components under a vehicle. The primary reason for the coating is to prevent the body from corrosion. The car’s underbody is often exposed to a lot of wear and tear from potholes, muddy water, stones, and other obstacles. The underbody coating is a long-term solution from corrosion and rust. Apart from the obvious prevention from corrosion other benefits from the underbody coating include: Minimising noise, Heat insulation and Anti-chipping property. The underbody coating results in a noiseless and smooth driving, insulates the car interior from extreme temperatures and prevents from damage done by hitting obstacles or speed breakers by not chipping.
There are different kinds of coating in use by the industry and the most common are: Phosphate conversion, hot melt wax, electrocoat, metallic coating etc. The conversion coating is used to better the paint adhesion. The hot melt wax coating is used extensively to prevent from corrosion and done through a dipping process. E-coat is widely used to protect underbody structural components, this is a process where electrically charged particles are deposited out of water suspension to coat the conductive part. Metallic coating is applied to steel components to prevent from corrosion and the metal often used are zinc, zinc-iron, and aluminium.
The importance or level of importance depends on the locality and the circumstance the vehicle is often driven. Most countries and companies have a standard for underbody coating and in situations where underbody coating is skimped on often this results in adverse effects. Vehicle driven in coastal areas and muddy roads are quickly prone to corrosion and it is important that there is ample underbody coating. The Underbody coating analysis is done by using 2 instruments, ELCOMETER for measuring the thickness of the coating and NITON XLT for analysing the composition of the coating.
Underbody coating is often done after the BIW has gone through ED, heating chamber and primer. Based on the company, type, and the plant abilities the underbody coating is done either via full automation or semi-automation. Underbody coating also plays a role in predesign and development process where bench marking takes place. Let it be comparing with competitor’s vehicle or parent vehicle it gives us information as to how to better the new car and presents it as a selling point to the customers. In the Indian market underbody coating plays an important role given the various coastal areas, muddy roads, potted holes, frequent speed breakers, obstacles and not to mention hot weather and unpredicted rains.
