Underbody Coating

TITLE:

Under-body Coating in automotive industry.

OBJECTIVE:

• To study about under-body and its purpose
• Types of under-body coating
• Pros and cons of under-body coating

INTODUCTION:

UNDER-BODY COATING:

Underbody coating is a thick cladding (typically made of rubber) that is placed uniformly to the car’s underside. When the automobile is fresh off the lot and spotless, it is usually sprayed or painted on. But it’s acceptable if you apply the undercoating after a couple of years. This is because it might protect the undercarriage from additional harm.

To safeguard the cars from rust and corrosion a coating is used on it. For a proper under body coating there are various methods.

1. Manual process where the person sprays the coat by lifting the vehicle to an appropriate height. Nowadays this is performed by high speed robots that ensures a thorough coating on intricate positions.
2. Another process is where the automobile frame is kept in a bath of liquid coat. The liquid in made to fall in a plent of amount and than the frame is allowed to get dry and the coat gets set on the frame.

PURPOSE OF UNDER-BODY COATING:

• The main purpose of undercoating is to check rust especially in the body components like frame rails along with other exposed metal parts.
• Underbody coating can also reduce wear and tear.
• Reduces NVH (Noise Vibrations Harshness) levels.
• Protects Vital Components- work as Reinforcement
• Protecting iys most exposed areas from moisture, dirt, salt and more.
• Working as Heat Insulation.
• Making your car smooth.
• It extends the lifespan of your car.

TYPES OF UNDER-BODY COATING:

Rubberized Underbody Coating

This is widely considered to be the best underbody coating for your car. It protects the underbody from scratches and keeps it properly. It’s also not difficult to apply this to the undercarriage. This can be done at the authorized service center or by the local repair shop at a reasonable price. Rubberized coating is ideal if you want to keep the road noise to a minimum and rust and corrosion away.

Wax Based Underbody Coating

This transitory undercoating will, on the whole, fade away after a few months. On the plus side, wax-based undercoating is resistant to dampness. It is also the most cost-effective alternative.

Asphalt Based Automotive Undercoating

Suitable for lorries, trucks, and other heavy vehicles. In comparison to rubber-based coatings, this gives a higher level of protection. Asphalt-based coatings, on the other hand, incorporate a small quantity of rubber for sound insulation. The application of this coating, however, takes some time.

Polyurethane Underbody Coating

This covering seals breaks and fractures in the vehicle’s underbody. It provides strong corrosion resistance and also binds to the metal. Unlike an asphalt-based coating, the polyurethane coating may be painted over.

ADVANTAGES OF UNDER-BODY COATING:

Fight 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'slife:

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 UNDER-BODY COATING:

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:

In Indian road conditions, a cars underbody is most prone to corrosion. 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.