Underbody Coating

CHALLENGE 2 : UNDER-BODY COATING

Under-Body Coating:

Underbody coating is usually a dense cladding (often based on rubber) applied uniformly to the undercarriage of the automobile. It is normally sprayed or painted on when the car is just out of the dealership and is clean. But even if you are getting the undercoating applied after a couple of years, it’s fine too. This is because it can prevent further damage to the undercarriage.

Main Purpose of Under-Body Coating:

Underbody coating provides long term protection from corrosion to car's underbody. It also protects parts like internal body panels, frame rails and other inner cavities that are not physically accessible but are prone to corrosion. Underbody coating can also reduce wear and tear.

The underbody coating that is most commonly used on cars in India is a thick, rubberized paint that forms a 2-3 mm thick coating all along the underside of the car when sprayed on. In general, it is required to apply such a protective coating in the manufacturing of a new car. (Depending on the Manufacturer the thickness of these stock coatings vary).

You also get a thinner clear coat underbody coating which is like a lacquer that coats the entire underside of the car. Some even inject rust-preventive coating material into crevices such as the bottom of doors and door sills, to protect them from rust.

The resistance of the Underbody towards corrosion & erosion also depends upon the thickness of these coats.

TYPES OF UNDER-BODY COATING:

Rubberized Undercoating

Rubberized vehicle undercoating is easy to apply and offers sound-cushioning as well as protection from dust, moisture, and dings or dents.

In addition to your undercarriage, rubberized undercoating is also safe to use on wheel wells and quarter panels, and dries to a soft rubbery finish that prevents further rust, damage, or moisture seeps. The coating can be painted over and, if necessary for bodywork, can be easily removed with an undercoating removal spray.

Overall, Rubberized 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 polyurethane based sealant. This type of vehicle undercoating is a little bit quicker and easier to apply.

Oftentimes, polyurethane undercoating will come in canisters ready to preload into an application gun. This type of sealant works by seeping into all cracks and seams, displacing salt and moisture and oozing around rusty areas to bond with and protect unoxidized metal. It also sands quickly in case you'll need to perform bodywork and can be painted over.

On the flipside, this type of car undercoating generally requires a little bit more surface prep work before applying -- sanding and applying an etching primer to bare metals before using are generally recommended.

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. During application, they drip or flow into seams and cracks to provide protective properties. They are usually available in a spray gun canister or in an aerosol can and offer at least a base protection in moderately humid climates.

Asphalt-Based Undercoating

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 against 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 undercarriages.

PURPOSE OF UNDER BODY COATING

1.Prevention from chipping

Road debris constantly hit your car under body while driving. In some cases, the under body might be scratched by uneven road damaging the protective coating on the metal sheet and leaving the bare metal exposed to the air, which results in corrosion when in contact with the moisture in the air. If not promptly getting anti-rust treatment, then the rust will soon spread to large areas. Under body coating is a thick elastic layer which could not be easily damaged by stone chipping or scratch, therefore could basically protect the metal sheet of the under body.

2. Prevents corrosion

Environmntal factors like heat,moisture, atmospheric salts will affect the under body of a car. Particular in coastal areas, the wind from the sea will bring more salt to the air, which will accelerate the corrosion and reduce the service life of a car. When the under body is covered with thick and tight layers, it would act as a strong barrior to prevent these external substances affecting the metal sheet.

3.Sound and Vibation insulation

The thick underbody coatings used on cars also act as effective sound and vibration dampeners. They can reduce road noise and tyre noise and make the cabin seem quieter – due to the sound absorptive nature of rubberized paints.

Advantages of Undercoating:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Disadvantages 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.

Conclusion:

Applying underbody coating contributes significantly to the extended life of the vehicle.