Underbody Coating
UNDERBODY COATING
INTRODUCTION
Underbody coating is used to protect the vehicle chassis from external environment, to ensure the integrity and safety of car. The use of underbody coating plays a very important role in the service life of the vehicle. In general, it is required to spray such a protective coating in the manufacturing of the new car. Due to the highly competitiveness of new car sales, car producers have pressure to reduce the manufacturing cost, so that they reduce or even completely eliminate the use of under body coating where it is not to be easily seem by car owners. As a consequence, our car service life will be greatly reduced.
Many car owners know to regularly maintenance the vehicle by changing the engine oil and having the paint polished, but little attention has been paid to the bottom of the car. There are many cars whose surface looks glossy, while the under body’s already rusting.
PURPOSE OF UNDERBODY COATING
- Prevent from stone chip
There are one or two speedbrakers in every roads, and they are constantly hitting your car on the under body, wheel arches, sills and the trunk lower part while driving on the road. In some cases, the under body might be scratched by uneven road. If not promptly getting anti-rust treatment, then the rust will soon spread to large areas. Under body coating or the anti-stone chip 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.
- Improve driving comfort
After curing, the under body coating becomes a thick elastic coating covering the whole under body, which could act as a good dampening material, significantly reduce the vibration of the metal sheet and reduce the noise inside the car.
- Reduces noise
The shock from stones and debris that attack the underbody of car, are absorbed by the coating therby reducing noise.
- Keep the value
A car could keep a high value while it is well maintained. It means that if a car is well treated on under body protection, it could keep the car in a good condition and extend the car’s service life, or you could charge a higher price in a used-car trading.
Measurement of underbody thickness and its composition:
Measuring device: Elcometer
Composition is analysed using NILTON XLT
TYPES OF UNDERBODY COATING
1. Rubberized Undercoating
Rubberized vehicle undercoating is easy to apply and offers good cushioning as well as protection from dust, moisture, and dents. Which is generally the best option for protecting the vehicle’s underbody, as it provides the simplest and best protective measures against rust and moisture.
2. Polyurethane Undercoating
The other option for undercoating the vehicle is to use a polyurethane based sealant. This type of vehicle undercoating is a little bit quicker and easier to apply.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.
3. Wax or Paraffin-Based Undercoatings
A paraffin-based undercoating will be the cheapest and quickest option available with which to protect the undercarriage of the 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.
4. Asphalt-Based Undercoating
For standard vehicles, any of the above mentioned 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. This type of undercoating also needs more cure time than the other three, and is not paintable, making it best to use only for underbodies.
Advantages:
Now we will tell you why you should consider investing in a vehicle underbody coating.
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.
Reinforcements - 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 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:
Nothing comes for free in this world. The same goes for undercoating. The undercoating or rustproofing spray is heavy in pockets. However, itis nothing when you compare it with the cost of replacing a vehicle after corrosion.
Lanolin has earned the nickname wool grease for a reason. This waxy substance is derived from a naturally occurring secretion commonly found in fluffy animals like sheep. Produced within the glands that encapsulate their wool follicles, lanolin provides these cud chewing critters with a waterproof coat that helps keep them dry and warm in winter. This makes breeds like the ultra-fluffy Merino breed of sheep quite the hot commodity.
On the downside, because lanolin is basically the porous substance secreted by livestock, it smells. This repulsive aroma is even more notable when lanolin is exposed to warmer temperatures. So if you notice that no one is parking next to you in summer, it might be because they car't stand the strange stench of your vehicles undercoating.
Over the years, electronic rust inhibitors have seen a surprising amount of success in both marine and underground structural applications. But the effectiveness of these products depends heavily upon a multitude of factors, many of which are not always present in automobiles. Most metals do a damn good job of conducting electrical current, which explains why having a module attached to a car battery, with electrodes channeling electricity underneath seems like a brilliant idea.
Aqhe only way for an undercoating to provide ongoing protection for your vehicle is to have the service repeated frequently. Most owners can have a new layer applied each year without worrying about their underbelly being compromised.
